Switzerland (CH)
Switzerland is a landlocked federal republic of 26 cantons at the heart of Europe, bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
Capital: Bern
Region: Europe
Language: German
Currency: CHF (CHF)
Cost of living: Very expensive (index 122)
Emergency: 112
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Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before you need them.
General Emergency
112
Police
117
Fire Brigade
118
Ambulance
144
Poison Control
Tox Info Suisse: 145 (24/7, free)
Mental Health
Die Dargebotene Hand / La Main Tendue / Telefono Amico: 143 (free, 24/7, multilingual)
Domestic Violence
Opferhilfe Schweiz: 143 or local cantonal Frauenhaus. Cantonal hotlines vary; police: 117.
Child Protection
Pro Juventute Beratung + Hilfe 147 (free, 24/7 for children and teenagers)
Road Assistance
TCS (Touring Club Schweiz): 0800 140 140 (free). ACS (Automobil-Club der Schweiz): 044 283 33 33. Membership ~CHF 100–180/year.
Medgate / cantonal Ärztlicher Notfalldienst / Garde médicale
0900 144 144 (Ärztefon Zürich) or cantonal number — vary by canton
Out-of-hours GP service for non-life-threatening medical problems. Each canton operates its own system; check "ärztlicher Notfalldienst" or "garde médicale" + your canton. Your health insurer's hotline (often free) is also a first-line medical triage service.
Weekdays from 7pm, weekends and public holidays all day.
How to call emergency services in Switzerland
All emergency numbers (112, 117, 118, 144) are free from any phone, including mobiles with no SIM. State: location (canton, town, street), type of incident, number of injured, your name. The dispatcher speaks your canton's official language and usually English. Stay on the line.