117, 118 & 144 emergency numbers in Switzerland

There are three main emergency numbers in Switzerland:

• 117 is used for emergencies requiring the police
• 118 is used for fire emergencies
• 144 is used for medical emergencies

In addition, there are three other numbers that can be used for specific types of emergencies:

• 1414 is the number for Rega, Swiss Air-Rescue
• 145 is used for suspected cases of poisoning
• 140 is for the road emergency and breakdown service

You can also call the pan-European emergency number 112 to speak to an operator and be put through to the appropriate emergency service. 

Calls to all these numbers are free of charge and can be made from a landline, mobile phone or payphone, even if you don’t have any credit. The operators can usually be expected to speak English as well as German, French and Italian. 

Emergency number instructions:

• After dialling, wait to be connected to an operator and explain the situation, giving as many details as possible. 
• Tell the operator your location and explain how they can reach you. 
• Answer all of the operator’s questions and follow their advice. 
• Do not hang up until you are told to do so, and keep your phone free after hanging up, as they may call you back. 
• Only call back if you have further information to share or if the situation changes. 

Calling 112 in Switzerland

If you require urgent assistance, you can call the 112 European emergency number in Switzerland. If you dial 112, you will be connected to the police emergency control centre, which will then connect you to the appropriate service. 

The other emergency numbers can be called in specific circumstances. 

Call 117 in case of:

• Assaults/accidents/threats to life
• Attempted theft/damage

Call 118 in case of:

• Fire/smoke/explosives
• A person or an animal needs to be rescued or extricated from a vehicle
• Flooding
• Chemical incidents

Call 144 in case of: 

• Someone is unconscious/bleeding/suffocating
• Any other accidents or incidents requiring urgent medical assistance

You can also call 111 to find an emergency doctor, dentist or pharmacy. 

Call 1414 in case of:

• Rough, inaccessible terrain would make it difficult for other emergency services to reach you, typically up mountains and in ski resorts
• Someone needs swift transfer to a hospital, for instance in cases of suspected back injuries, heart attacks, strokes, severe burns or amputations
• Medical assistance is required at the accident site, for instance, if someone falls from a great height or becomes trapped
• Avalanche accidents

Call 145 in case of:

• Suspected poisonings by chemicals, medications, poisonous plants, fungi or animals, or drugs
• Someone is showing symptoms of poisoning

If someone loses consciousness or is having trouble breathing, call 144 instead.

Call 140 in case of: 

• Roadside breakdowns

Do not use 117/118/144:

• To make prank calls
• To check the number works
• To report an accident or emergency you have already reported
• For minor, non-urgent accidents or incidents

Using 112 elsewhere abroad

While 117, 118 and 144 and the emergency services associated with them are specific to Switzerland (i.e. these numbers may bring up different services if dialled abroad), 112 is a single emergency telephone number that can be used in all EU countries. Depending on the country, it either operates alongside other national emergency numbers or as the main number. 

You can use 112 in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Vatican and the United Kingdom.