11 important emergency numbers in Switzerland

May 2024 · 6 minute read

How do you call emergency services in Switzerland? The most important Swiss emergency number you need to know is 112. It’s the Swiss equivalent of 911 in the US and will connect you to a dispatch center for sending out the appropriate responders.

There are other Swiss emergency numbers you can use for more specific purposes, such as learning about local traffic conditions or receiving emergency mental-health services. We’ll go over a list of the most important and useful emergency numbers in Switzerland and explain how to place an emergency call in the country.

  • Emergency services: 112
  • Police: 117
  • Fire services: 118
  • Ambulance and healthcare emergencies: 144
  • Mental health: 143
  • Family and children: 147 
  • Animals
  • Traffic and travel: 140
  • Victim support
  • Consular services
  • Loss and theft

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    1. Emergency services: 112

    112 is the crucial emergency phone number you need to know. Calling 112 is synonymous with calling 911 in North America. Calling from Switzerland will connect you to an emergency control center. The operator on the line will put you through to the appropriate emergency service—most likely the police, fire services or medical services.

    112 is the standard EU emergency number and also works outside Switzerland. It will work from any phone, including a foreign mobile phone, a phone with no credit or a locked smartphone.

    2. Police: 117

    Though you can dial 112 as well as 117 to connect to the Swiss police, you can also reach out to national police desks for less urgent matters. In Switzerland, the Federal Office of Police, or Fedpol for short, coordinates between the cantonal police corps. Each of the 26 Swiss cantons has its own police service, and they do not report to federal authorities.

    See the complete list of cantonal police contact information if the relevant canton isn’t represented above.

    3. Fire services: 118

    118 is the general emergency number for contacting local fire services in Switzerland.

    4. Ambulance and healthcare emergencies: 144

    The ambulance number in Switzerland is 144. Calling this number will connect you to a dispatch for urgent medical help. Other relevant numbers for emergency healthcare and rescue services include:

    5. Mental health: 143

    You can call 143 for emergency mental-health counseling. Calling this number will connect you to a “helping hand” who can talk you through a mental-health crisis with full anonymity.

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    6. Family and children: 147 

    Children and teenagers can receive telephone support by calling the free number 147. Counseling is also available online.

    7. Animals

    For pet emergencies, consult the list of emergency vets to find one in your canton or region.

    8. Traffic and travel: 140

    If you have an emergency on the road or need help with a car breakdown, you can call 140 for emergency services in Switzerland. However, you should also report an accident to the police by calling 112 or 117.

    9. Victim support

    In cases of domestic violence or hate crimes, you can call 112 or 117 to reach the police, or 144 for a medical emergency. There are a number of other helplines available to support victims:

    Victim Support Switzerland also maintains a list of emergency shelters for victims.

    10. Consular services

    You can call the helpline of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) for consular services.

    11. Loss and theft

    Your first point of contact for lost or stolen items is the local police station. You can also dial 117 for more help. Here are some helpful links and phone numbers:

    How to place an emergency call in Switzerland

    When calling a Swiss emergency number, follow these steps depending on your case or emergency:

    What you need to know about emergency phone numbers in Switzerland

    112 is the most important emergency number in Switzerland because it can quickly connect you to vital emergency responders such as medical, police and fire services. This number works not only in Switzerland, but throughout the European Union. Note that abusing the emergency response system is a punishable offense.

    Switzerland has three official languages on the national level: German, French, and Italian, with Romansh as a fourth national language being only official in part. While not all helplines are available in all languages, the generic emergency number 112 (as well as other three-digit numbers) are available in the three official languages. For less urgent cases, you can reach out to local police as well as a variety of institutions and helplines. Further information and services are also available online.

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    Jakob Straub

    Jakob is a freelance writer in Barcelona, Spain, and his favorite books have pages all empty. As an expert storyteller, he publishes creative fiction in English and German and helps other authors shape their manuscripts into compelling stories. Thanks to an expertise in a wide range of topics such as writing, literature and productivity to marketing, travel, and technology, he produces engaging content for his clients. Apart from the escape that books offer, Jakob enjoys traveling digital nomad style and stays active with climbing and hiking. Find out more about him on his website or on Goodreads.

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