Brits are being warned to make sure they have nine very specific items as part of a new “war readiness” campaign. Last week, the Government's new emergency Be Ready campaign was rolled out, and has been designed to encourage UK households to take a few simple steps to stay prepared in case everyday services are temporarily knocked out. It represents the opening phase of a three-year campaign to help households across the UK feel better equipped for incidents such as extreme weather, which can disrupt services including power, water, phones and the internet.
And as part of that, a definitive checklist was produced telling Brits to make sure they're stocked up on nine key aspects – although in reality, it's a lot more than nine specific items. The document warns: “If you have any extra items, you could consider donating these to others who might not have the means to prepare their own household. You may be able to help someone by photocopying or printing important documents for them.” And adds: “Being ready for three days helps you manage while support reaches those most in need.
Doing this is easier than you might think. You could have some of the items at home already. You don’t need to do it all at once. Build up your readiness gradually over time by taking it step by step, and picking up an extra item or two when you can.” Water Bottled water for 3 days. 3 litres per person per day for drinking. More would be needed for other tasks such as cooking and washing. Food Non-perishable food for 3 days. Food with a long shelf life that doesn't need refrigeration or cooking e.g. tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts.
It's best to buy food you'd usually eat. Hygiene Hand sanitiser, wet wipes, hygiene and bathroom products. Light and warmth Torch (and spare batteries). Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing. Communication and information FM radio (battery/wind-up). Charged power bank. Money and documents Cash (mix of coins and notes) and cards. Copies of IDs/documents. Important phone numbers and information (e.g. regular medication and doses). Medical and health First aid kit/first aid items.
Essential medication and medical supplies. Baby products Baby formula. Ready-made or 'ready-to-feed' formula is best, as you may not be able to boil water to make up powdered formula safely. Nappies and wipes. Pet products Pet food and bottled water.
The Daily Star's headline tells readers that Brits are being warned to prepare for World War Three, but its own body describes a government campaign for disruptions such as extreme weather and never mentions a world war. The headline also puts 'must have to survive' in quotation marks, though no one quoted in the article says it. The body puts 'war readiness' in quotation marks with no source.
Headline goes beyond the article
Serious
“Brits warned to prepare for WW3”
Why this matters
The words "prepare for WW3" tell the reader that the warning is about a coming world war.
The impression it gives
A reader believes the Government has told households to get ready for a third world war.
The context
The Daily Star's own body describes the Be Ready campaign as preparation for everyday services being temporarily knocked out, with extreme weather as its example. Nothing in the article says anyone warned of a world war. Other coverage of the same campaign names severe weather and cyber attacks.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“feel better equipped for incidents such as extreme weather, which can disrupt services including power, water, phones and the internet”
Elsewhere in the article“stay prepared in case everyday services are temporarily knocked out”
“'nine items you must have to survive for three days'”
Why this matters
The headline puts "nine items you must have to survive" in quotation marks, as if the Government said these words.
The impression it gives
A reader believes the official guidance says these items are needed to survive and must be owned.
The context
The document the article quotes says being ready for three days helps people manage while support reaches others, and that households need not do it all at once. No one in the article says "must have to survive". The article itself admits the list is not nine items.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“Being ready for three days helps you manage while support reaches those most in need.”
Elsewhere in the article“You don’t need to do it all at once.”
Elsewhere in the article“in reality, it's a lot more than nine specific items”
Brits urged to keep three days of supplies, from water to a torch, under new government Be Ready campaign for emergencies such as extreme weather.
Unattributed quotation marks
Minor
“war readiness”
Why this matters
The Daily Star puts "war readiness" in quotation marks as the campaign's description, with no source.
The impression it gives
A reader believes the Government itself calls this a war readiness campaign.
The context
The article names the campaign as Be Ready and describes it as preparation for incidents such as extreme weather. No quoted passage from the document uses the phrase.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“the Government's new emergency Be Ready campaign was rolled out”
Elsewhere in the article“incidents such as extreme weather”