National awareness campaign to prevent risks related to the winter season. Under the slogan “A winter without accidents… for safe warmth.”
As part of the annual program for prevention and awareness of various hazards, outlined by the General Directorate of Civil Protection – Prevention Directorate, and given the characteristic increase in domestic accidents during the winter period due to the unsafe use of heating appliances and the resulting leaks of combustion gases, the Civil Protection services record numerous cases of carbon monoxide poisoning annually. These cases require emergency medical attention and, unfortunately, sometimes result in fatalities. The risk of floods and flash floods also poses another equally serious threat, causing significant human and material losses. This necessitates intensifying awareness efforts and establishing a culture of prevention within the community as a priority in risk management policy.
Statistics for 2024 show that the Civil Protection services recorded 964 interventions due to cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, resulting in the rescue and treatment of 2,402 people in critical condition, with 119 fatalities recorded. During the first nine months of 2025, 545 interventions were recorded, saving 1,280 people from certain death. Tragically, 81 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The primary causes of these incidents were inadequate ventilation in homes, outdated and worn-out heating appliances lacking maintenance, and improper installation or use by unqualified individuals.
Regarding floods, Civil Protection operational units carried out a total of 1,730 interventions in 2024, saving 581 people and resulting in 19 deaths. In the first nine months of 2025, 438 rescue operations were conducted, saving 209 people and resulting in 15 deaths. These deaths were largely attributed to misjudging the severity of the situation and failing to heed preventative advice, such as ignoring weather forecasts, attempting to cross wadis on foot or in vehicles, or seeking shelter under bridges or in tunnels. Based on the firm conviction that prevention is first and foremost a matter of awareness, the General Directorate of Civil Protection has adopted a comprehensive strategy to disseminate a culture of prevention among all segments of society. This strategy is implemented through a rich and coordinated communication and awareness plan involving various sectors and partners, including the directorates of commerce, education, health, religious affairs, vocational training, water resources, public works, housing, and universities, as well as Naftal (the national oil company), the electricity and gas distribution company, the Algerian Organization for the Protection and Guidance of Consumers and their Environment, representatives of local authorities, civil society organizations, and security forces.
In this context, the General Directorate of Civil Protection is organizing a national prevention campaign on winter-related hazards, starting on October 6, 2025, across the entire country. The official launch of the campaign will be announced from the province of Khenchela. The campaign program will be enriched with several activities, including organizing open days for citizens, launching outreach caravans to residential complexes that have recently benefited from city gas, inspecting and monitoring heating appliances with field partners, and intensifying awareness activities across educational institutions at all levels, mosques, vocational training centers, and universities. National media outlets and various social media platforms will also be involved to disseminate preventative messages.
It is worth noting that this campaign, which will continue throughout the winter season, aims to promote a culture of prevention among citizens and raise their awareness of the dangers of suffocation and flooding. This will ensure the adoption of positive behaviors that enable them to protect themselves and their families and reduce the human and material losses resulting from these hazards. The General Directorate of Civil Protection also calls on all citizens and associations to actively contribute to this awareness program by contacting the Civil Protection units and services located throughout the country.