Knowing the emergency numbers in Switzerland can save valuable time when you need police, fire, ambulance, poison-control, or rescue assistance. The most important numbers to remember are 112 for general European emergency access, 117 for police, 118 for the fire service, and 144 for an ambulance. Visitors should also know 145 for poisoning emergencies and 1414 for Swiss Air-Rescue Rega.
Quick Answer
In Switzerland, call 112 for general emergency access or when you are unsure which service you need. Use 117 for police, 118 for fire, and 144 for ambulance or urgent medical help. Call 145 for poisoning advice and 1414 for Rega air rescue within Switzerland.
Key Takeaways
- 112: European/general emergency number in Switzerland; it connects to a police emergency control centre.
- 117: Police.
- 118: Fire service.
- 144: Ambulance and urgent medical help.
- 145: Tox Info Suisse for suspected poisoning.
- 1414: Swiss Air-Rescue Rega when urgent medical assistance by air is needed within Switzerland.
- 0800 117 117: SBB Transport Police for emergencies on Switzerland’s public transport network.
- 112, 117, 118, 144, 145 and 147 are listed by the Federal Office of Communications as free calls.
- State your location clearly, explain what happened, describe immediate dangers, and answer the dispatcher’s questions.
- Do not hang up until the emergency operator tells you to do so.
Warning: Do not use 117 as the dedicated number for a medical emergency. In Switzerland, 117 is police and 144 is the ambulance/medical emergency number. You can also use 112 when you need general emergency assistance or are unsure which service to contact.
Emergency Numbers in Switzerland at a Glance
| Number | Service / When to Call |
| 112 | European/general emergency number. Use it for an urgent emergency or when you are unsure which dedicated emergency service you need. |
| 117 | Police emergencies, including immediate threats, crimes in progress, violence, or situations requiring urgent police assistance. |
| 118 | Fire service, including fires and other emergencies requiring the fire brigade. |
| 144 | Ambulance and urgent medical emergencies. |
| 145 | Tox Info Suisse for suspected poisoning. |
| 1414 | Swiss Air-Rescue Rega for urgent medical assistance by air within Switzerland. |
| 143 | Emotional-support helpline for adults. |
| 147 | Help and advice for children and young people. |
| 0800 117 117 | SBB Transport Police for urgent safety problems on Switzerland’s public transport network, including at stations and on board vehicles. |
Official Swiss government emergency guidance lists 112, 117, 118, 144 and 145 among the country’s key emergency numbers. The Federal Office of Communications also regulates the routing and location identification of calls to Swiss emergency services.
When to Call 112, 117, 118, and 144
The easiest way to remember the system is to match the dedicated number to the service you need. If police assistance is urgently required, call 117. If there is a fire or you urgently need the fire service, call 118. For a serious illness or injury requiring an ambulance, call 144.
112 is the European emergency number and also works in Switzerland. It is useful when you are dealing with an emergency but are unsure which dedicated Swiss service to call. Swiss government guidance states that a 112 call in Switzerland connects you with the police emergency control centre, which can coordinate the appropriate emergency response.
For example, call 144 if someone is unconscious, has severe breathing difficulty, appears to be having a heart attack or stroke, has suffered a serious injury, or otherwise needs urgent medical assistance. Call 117 for an immediate threat, violent incident, crime in progress, or other urgent police matter. Call 118 when you see a fire or another incident requiring the fire brigade.
Pro Tip: Save 112, 117, 118 and 144 in your phone before travelling around Switzerland. In a stressful situation, having the numbers immediately available is easier than trying to remember them.
How to Call 112 in Switzerland
Calling 112 is simple: dial 112 from your phone and be ready to explain where you are and what has happened. Switzerland recognizes 112 as the European emergency number, and the call is routed to a police emergency control centre.
According to official Swiss guidance, 112 can be particularly useful with a foreign SIM card and can also be called with a prepaid SIM that has no remaining credit. However, do not confuse this with using a phone that contains no SIM at all. A SIM-less mobile phone should not be relied upon for a Swiss emergency call; Switzerland withdrew access to 112 from mobile phones without SIM cards.
Once your call is connected, focus first on your location. Give a street address if you know it. If you are outdoors, describe the trail, station, mountain, landmark, road, building, or other information that can help identify where you are.
Then briefly explain what happened, how many people may need help, whether anyone is injured, and whether there is an immediate danger such as fire, traffic, unstable terrain, or hazardous material.
If you cannot remember the dedicated Swiss number during an emergency, 112 gives you a single European emergency number to call.
How to Call 117 in Switzerland
| Emergency Number | 117 |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Service | Police |
| Use It For | Urgent police assistance, immediate threats, crimes in progress, violence, or serious public-safety incidents |
Call 117 when you urgently need the police. Examples include witnessing a violent crime, facing an immediate threat, reporting a crime in progress, or dealing with another situation where prompt police intervention is required.
When the operator answers, give your location first and then describe what is happening. If you can do so safely, explain how many people are involved, whether anyone has a weapon, whether anyone is injured, and whether the person involved has left the scene.
Do not put yourself at risk to collect more information. Your safety comes before getting a detailed description.
How to Call 118 in Switzerland
Call 118 when you need the Swiss fire service. If you see a building, vehicle, forest, or other serious fire, move to a safe location and make the call as soon as possible.
Tell the operator where the fire or incident is located and what is burning. Mention people who may be trapped, visible smoke or flames, nearby fuel or chemicals, and any other immediate danger you can identify without approaching the hazard.
Warning: Never re-enter a burning or smoke-filled building to retrieve belongings. Move to safety, alert others when you can do so safely, and follow instructions from emergency personnel.
How to Call 144 for a Medical Emergency
144 is Switzerland’s dedicated ambulance emergency number. This is the number to remember for serious medical emergencies requiring urgent professional help.
Call 144 for situations such as severe breathing problems, unconsciousness, major injuries, suspected heart attack or stroke, severe bleeding, or another condition that appears immediately life-threatening.
Tell the dispatcher where the patient is, what happened, the patient’s condition, and any obvious hazards at the scene. Answer the questions as clearly as you can. The information helps the emergency centre determine what response is needed.
If you cannot remember 144 or are unsure which emergency service is appropriate, you can use 112.
Other Important Emergency Numbers in Switzerland
145 for Poisoning
For a suspected poisoning, call 145 to reach Tox Info Suisse. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health identifies 145 as the poison emergency number.
If the poisoning involves a household or chemical product, keep the packaging or label available if you can do so safely. Details such as the product name and its UFI code can help specialists identify the substance involved.
1414 for Swiss Air-Rescue Rega
If urgent medical assistance by air is needed within Switzerland, Swiss Air-Rescue Rega can be reached on 1414. Rega states that its national operations centre answers emergency calls 24 hours a day.
Rega can be particularly relevant in mountainous, remote, or difficult-to-access terrain where immediate assistance by a rescue helicopter is required. Examples include difficult access to an accident site or situations where rapid transport to an appropriate hospital is necessary. Its Rega app can also transmit location data when the required phone settings, SIM card, and network connection are available.
Note: For an ordinary urgent medical emergency where an ambulance is needed, call 144. Call Rega on 1414 when urgent medical assistance by air or rescue-helicopter support is needed within Switzerland. If you are unsure which emergency service is appropriate, 112 remains an option.
143 and 147
Switzerland also uses 143 for an emotional-support helpline aimed primarily at adults and 147 for assistance for children and young people. These numbers appear in Switzerland’s official emergency-call framework alongside police, fire, ambulance and poisoning services.
0800 117 117 for SBB Transport Police
If an urgent safety problem occurs on Switzerland’s public transport network, including at a railway station or on board a vehicle, contact the SBB Transport Police on 0800 117 117. SBB identifies this as a free emergency number. For a broader police emergency, you can still call 117.
Are Emergency Calls Free in Switzerland?
The Federal Office of Communications lists calls to 112, 117, 118, 144, 145 and 147 as free of charge. The adult helpline 143 is treated differently; OFCOM lists a maximum charge of CHF 0.20 per call, or CHF 0.70 when calling from a call box.
SBB also lists its Transport Police emergency number, 0800 117 117, as free. Other short numbers can have different charging arrangements, so do not assume every four-digit service number has the same pricing as the national emergency numbers.
What to Expect When Calling Emergency Services in Switzerland
When you make an emergency call, be prepared to give information that allows the emergency centre to understand the situation and locate you quickly.
A useful order is:
- Where are you? Give the address, road, station, landmark, trail, building, or other location information.
- What happened? Describe the emergency in one or two clear sentences.
- Who needs help? Say how many people are involved and, if known, their condition.
- What dangers remain? Mention fire, traffic, weapons, chemicals, unstable terrain, or other hazards.
- How can you be reached? Be prepared to confirm your phone number if requested.
Stay on the line and answer the operator’s questions. Do not hang up simply because you have given the basic details. The dispatcher may need more information or may give you instructions while help is being organised.
Tips for Effective Communication When Calling Emergency Services
During an emergency, short and specific information is usually more useful than a long explanation. Speak as clearly as you can and concentrate on the facts you know.
If you do not know the exact street address, describe your surroundings. A railway station name, motorway direction, hiking-trail sign, cable-car station, hotel, restaurant, lake, bridge, mountain hut, or other recognizable landmark can help identify your position.
Pro Tip: When travelling or hiking, periodically check the name of your trail, station, road, village, or nearby landmark. If an emergency occurs, having that information available can make explaining your location much easier.
Do not assume that every operator will necessarily communicate in your preferred language. If there is a language difficulty, begin with the emergency type and your location, use simple words, and follow the operator’s questions as closely as possible.
Mobile Phones, SIM Cards, and Emergency Location
There are several important mobile-phone details to understand in Switzerland.
First, official Swiss guidance says 112 can be called using a foreign SIM card and can be available from a prepaid SIM without remaining credit. However, a phone with no SIM card at all should not be relied upon for an emergency call. Switzerland withdrew access to 112 from SIM-less mobile phones.
Second, mobile emergency-call location technology has improved. The Federal Office of Communications says that since 1 July 2022, emergency calls from mobile phones must transmit more specific caller-location information than before.
Switzerland uses Advanced Mobile Location (AML) on compatible smartphones for its national emergency numbers. When an emergency communication is established on a supported device, AML can automatically use the phone’s location capabilities to provide more precise position information to emergency services. It does not require you to install a separate AML app.
Note: Automatic location technology is helpful, but you should still tell the operator where you are. Device capabilities, terrain, buildings, satellite reception, network conditions and other factors can affect the location information available to the emergency centre.
What If Your Mobile Provider Has No Signal?
A lack of service from your normal provider does not always mean an emergency voice call is impossible. OFCOM explains that if your Swiss provider has no coverage at your location but another Swiss mobile network is available, an emergency voice call can still be routed to an emergency centre through restricted national-roaming functionality.
The situation is different when no usable mobile network is available at all. In that case, a normal mobile call cannot connect until the phone reaches network coverage. The Rega app likewise requires at least minimal mobile-network coverage to initiate an alarm.
Other Important Information to Know When Calling Emergency Services in Switzerland
If you are visiting Switzerland, save the emergency numbers before your trip rather than relying on an internet search during a crisis. This is particularly useful when travelling through mountain areas where mobile data coverage may be limited.
If you are outdoors and your own provider has no service, try the emergency call because another available Swiss network may still be able to route the voice call. If there is no mobile-network coverage from any usable network, however, a normal mobile call cannot be completed until coverage becomes available. Rega likewise explains that its app requires at least minimal mobile-network coverage to initiate an alarm. In remote areas, plan your route carefully, keep your phone charged, and consider appropriate emergency communication equipment for activities far outside normal mobile coverage.
For a suspected poisoning, remember 145. For urgent air rescue in Switzerland, remember 1414. For an ambulance or medical emergency, remember 144. Keeping these alongside 112, 117 and 118 gives you a much more complete emergency reference than relying on only three numbers.
The central rule is simple: 112 for a general emergency, 117 for police, 118 for fire, and 144 for ambulance. Give your location first, describe what happened clearly, follow the dispatcher’s instructions, and stay on the line until you are told you can end the call.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main emergency numbers in Switzerland?
The main numbers are 112 for general European emergency access, 117 for police, 118 for the fire service, and 144 for an ambulance or urgent medical emergency. Other useful numbers include 145 for poisoning and 1414 for Swiss Air-Rescue Rega.
When should I call 112 in Switzerland?
Call 112 for an urgent emergency when you need immediate assistance or when you are unsure which dedicated Swiss emergency number to use. In Switzerland, 112 connects to a police emergency control centre that can coordinate the appropriate response.
When should I call 117 in Switzerland?
Call 117 when you urgently need the police, such as for an immediate threat, violent incident, crime in progress, or another emergency requiring police intervention.
When should I call 118 in Switzerland?
Call 118 when you urgently need the fire service, including for a building, vehicle, forest, or other serious fire.
What number should I call for an ambulance in Switzerland?
Call 144 for an ambulance or urgent medical emergency in Switzerland. Do not use 117 as the dedicated medical number; 117 is for police. If you cannot remember 144, you can call 112.
What number should I call for poisoning in Switzerland?
Call 145 for Tox Info Suisse if you suspect poisoning. If the person is in immediate life-threatening distress and needs an ambulance, call 144.
Can I make a Swiss emergency call without a SIM card?
Do not rely on a mobile phone without a SIM card for a Swiss emergency call. Switzerland withdrew SIM-less access to 112. Swiss government guidance does say that 112 can be used with a foreign SIM and with a prepaid SIM that has no remaining credit.
Does my mobile phone send my location during a Swiss emergency call?
Swiss emergency-call rules provide for improved mobile caller-location information, including Advanced Mobile Location on compatible smartphones. More precise location information has been required for mobile emergency calls since July 2022. You should still clearly state your location to the operator.
What is the Rega emergency number in Switzerland?
The Swiss Air-Rescue Rega emergency number within Switzerland is 1414. It is intended for urgent medical assistance by air and is especially relevant when immediate rescue-helicopter assistance is required.
Are emergency calls free in Switzerland?
The Federal Office of Communications lists 112, 117, 118, 144, 145 and 147 as free calls. Number 143 has different charging rules, and other short service numbers may also have charges.
Can I make an emergency call if my normal mobile network has no signal?
Possibly. If your own Swiss mobile provider has no coverage but another Swiss mobile network is available, an emergency voice call can still be routed through restricted national-roaming functionality. If no usable mobile network is available at all, the phone cannot complete a normal mobile call until coverage becomes available.
What is the SBB Transport Police emergency number?
Call 0800 117 117 for the SBB Transport Police if you face an urgent safety problem on Switzerland’s public transport network, including at stations or on board vehicles. SBB lists this emergency number as free.
Sources
- ch.ch — Swiss government emergency guidance — official listing for 112, 117, 118, 143, 144, 145, 147 and SBB Transport Police.
- Federal Office of Communications — Emergency Call Requirement — emergency-call routing, Advanced Mobile Location, caller-location rules and mobile-network behavior.
- Federal Office of Communications — Short-number charges — confirms which national emergency numbers are free and the charging rules for 143.
- Federal Office of Public Health — UFI Code and Poisoning Emergencies — confirms Tox Info Suisse emergency number 145 and UFI guidance.
- Swiss Air-Rescue Rega — Emergency Number 1414 — official guidance for urgent medical assistance by air in Switzerland.
- SBB — Transport Police — confirms the free 0800 117 117 emergency number for safety incidents on the public transport network.
