Europe
Sweden.
Swedish law places a duty on anyone who discovers a fire or an accident endangering life to warn those in danger and call for help if possible, and it lets the state compensate people who help in rescue services. The state also states a policy goal of improving conditions for civil society, offers a tax reduction for cash gifts to approved recipients, and relies on volunteer defense organizations and municipal volunteer groups in emergencies.
Is there a legal duty to help a stranger?
LimitedThe Act on Protection against Accidents (2003:778), chapter 2 section 1, says a person who discovers or learns of a fire or an accident that endangers someone's life or poses serious risk to health or the environment shall, if possible, warn those in danger and, when needed, call for help. In the Penal Code text reviewed, chapter 23 section 6 concerns failing to report or prevent crimes and only where the crime can be revealed or prevented without danger to anyone; no general criminal failure-to-rescue offense, and no penalty clause for the Act's duty, was located in the texts reviewed.
Are people who help protected?
LimitedChapter 24 section 4 of the Penal Code says an act committed in necessity (danger to life, health, property or another protected interest) is a crime only if it is unjustifiable given the danger and the harm caused. Under the Act on Protection against Accidents chapter 6 section 4, a person who takes part in rescue services, whether under a service duty or voluntarily with the rescue leader's consent, has a right to reasonable compensation for travel, board, work and lost time. No broad statute shielding good-faith helpers from civil liability was found in the texts reviewed.
How the government promotes giving and service
Ways to give and volunteer
Sweden has a mature charity sector, and giving is usually done through accountable fundraising organizations; the Church of Sweden and other faith groups also run some local services. The one thing to know first: look for the 90-account (90-konto) control before you give.
Check a charity before you give
The independent body that holds fundraising organizations to its rules, grants the 90-account number and lets you look up approved groups (in Swedish).
Give your time
Give money, blood or a donation
In an emergency or a crisis
Before you act
- Be wary of unsolicited calls, SMS and social media appeals; check that the group has a 90-account at Svensk Insamlingskontroll.
- Pay through the organization's own listed account, not a number sent by message.
- Foreign visitors should confirm work and visa rules before volunteering.
This list does not cover every local group, religious services or political causes, and it is not a recommendation of any one charity. Checked 2026-10-28. Listing an organization is not an endorsement, and none of them has endorsed this site. Some official sites block automatic checks, so a link may need a second try.
One thing worth knowing
Chapter 6 section 1 of the Act on Protection against Accidents makes everyone aged 18 to 65 liable to take part in rescue services on the rescue leader's request, as far as knowledge, health and strength allow, and says volunteers are to be called on first when a municipality picks people for its rescue home-guard.
What this does not mean
The statutes are quoted from Swedish originals on riksdagen.se and paraphrased in this guide; no official English text was consulted. A legal duty to warn or call for help is not the same as an enforced duty to rescue, and this guide does not say how courts apply it. The state agency formerly called MSB now appears under the name Myndigheten for civilt försvar, so older references may be outdated. This is a plain-language summary of public sources, not legal advice, and it does not rank countries. No government named here has endorsed this site. Not reviewed by a lawyer. Statutes were read in public sources and may have changed. Last checked October 26, 2026.