Emergencies & Accidents | Doctors & Dentists | Hospitals & Clinics | Drugs & Medicines | Counseling These emergency numbers (Notfallnummern) are valid for all of Switzerland: 117 Police (Polizeinotruf) 118 Fire (Feuermeldestelle) 144 Emergency (medical assistance) 140 Road Assistance (vehicle breakdown) The Emergency Center in Zurich is a 24-hour referral service with English-speaking operators and provides medical advice and house calls 24 hours a day. The phone number is 044 421 21 21. SOS-Doctors (German only) and SOS-Dentists (German only) are two private organizations in Zurich, established by a group of doctors and dentists. They provide medical and dental assistance 24 hours a day in case of an emergency. SOS-Doctors: phone 044 360 44 44 SOS-Dentists: phone 044 262 11 11 The emergency center at the Dental Institute of the University of Zurich is especially responsive and can be reached at 01 634 32 69. The Permanence Zurich Hauptbahnhof (main station) is the first private medical station in Zurich that provides urgent medical care on an outpatient basis without prior appointment. It is open daily from 7am to 11pm. The location is Bahnhofplatz 15, 8001 Zurich, 044 215 44 44. The Swiss Toxicological Information Center provides free medical advice in cases of poisoning and poisoning risks to everybody in Switzerland around the clock, 044 251 51 51. Switzerland has an outstanding air rescue service otherwise known as Rega. It has 10 bases from which a helicopter or an air ambulance jet can be dispatched. In good flying conditions any point in the country - with the exception of the Canton Valais - can be reached within 15 minutes. A doctor is a regular member of Rega’s jet and helicopter crews. The fundamental principle is to transport medical assistance directly to the scene of an accident, a philosophy that has gained worldwide recognition. In the event of an accident or serious illness, anyone can ask for assistance by calling Rega’s emergency number 1414, which is manned 24 hours a day. In case of a car accident resulting in an injury, either to you or a third party, inform the police immediately. If medical treatment is necessary don’t forget to contact your accident insurance company immediately. Swiss accident or health insurance policies cover medical treatment only within Switzerland if the accident occurred here. The policies however cover medical treatment outside Switzerland if the event took place outside Switzerland. There are two categories of mandatory accident insurance for employees in Switzerland: The occupational accident insurance is compulsory and is paid by the employer. It covers accidents or illness at work and accidents that occur when travelling to and from work or when travelling on company business. One of the best-known accident insurance companies is SUVA (German only). The non-occupational accident insurance is compulsory for all employees employed for more than eight hours a week. An employer may pass on the whole cost to the employee. The compulsory non-occupational accident insurance covers the employee only and not members of the family. The family therefore should be covered by private accident insurance, which can be combined with health insurance. Accident insurance is voluntary for the self-employed. The Swiss Council for Accident Prevention provides information on how to prevent and avoid accidents (road, sport, household, garden and leisure). Concerning your personal safety it is important to note that the crime rate in Switzerland and particularly in Zurich is low compared to other cities in Europe. However, it is on the increase, with crimes against property in the forefront. Violent crime continues to be rare. Despite its relative safety, normal precautions should be taken. For your safety it is recommended that items of value be kept in a safe deposit box. Don’t leave valuable items in a car, instead put everything in the trunk. Pick pocketing and purse snatching do occur. Do not display large amounts of cash or jewelry in public. Avoid certain areas of Zurich, in which drug dealers and drug users congregate. Any loss or theft of items should be reported immediately to the local police. The health and sanitation conditions in Switzerland are of a high standard. No unusual health problems due to the environment of Switzerland are encountered and no special precautions need to be taken. Public restrooms are clean and often under control of an attendant. The water from the public fountains is always safe. Emergencies & Accidents | Doctors & Dentists | Hospitals & Clinics | Drugs & Medicines | Counseling Home |