If you remember only one number, make it 112: it works across Switzerland, France and Italy and connects you to emergency services from any phone. Each country also keeps its own short numbers for ambulance, police and fire, and Switzerland has a dedicated air rescue line, 1414. This list covers the region that AirportsTransfers.ch serves from Geneva, from the city to the ski resorts on all three sides of the border.
- Everywhere: 112, the European emergency number
- Switzerland: 144 ambulance, 117 police, 118 fire, 1414 air rescue, 145 poisoning
- France: 15 medical emergencies, 17 police, 18 fire, 114 by text for deaf callers
- Italy: 112 as the single emergency number, with older short numbers still known
- On the slopes: alert the ski patrol via the number on your lift pass or piste map
Switzerland
Switzerland keeps separate numbers for each service, all free to call from mobiles and landlines:
- 144: ambulance and medical emergencies
- 117: police
- 118: fire service
- 1414: air rescue, for helicopter assistance in the mountains
- 145: poisoning advice
- 112: European emergency number, routed to the appropriate service
In the Valais, where Verbier, Zermatt and Crans-Montana are located, mountain rescue is coordinated through 144, and helicopter crews based in the canton respond. In the Bernese Oberland or Graubünden, 1414 is widely used for air rescue. If you are unsure, 112 or 144 will put you in touch with the right team.
France
The French resorts nearest Geneva, including Chamonix, Megève, Courchevel and Val d'Isère, follow French procedures:
- 15: emergency medical service
- 17: police or gendarmerie
- 18: fire and rescue, who also handle many accidents
- 114: emergency number by text message for deaf or hard-of-hearing people
- 112: European emergency number
In the high mountains, rescues are carried out by specialised gendarmerie and fire service teams, often by helicopter. Calling 112 is the simplest approach for visitors, as the operator can transfer you to the correct service.
Operators in Chamonix and other busy resorts are used to callers who do not speak French, but speaking slowly and giving the name of the resort, the lift or the piste first helps them send help quickly.
Italy
In the Aosta Valley, home to Courmayeur, about 107 km and 1 h 30 from Geneva Airport, 112 is the main emergency number, answered by a central operator who dispatches medical, police or fire services. The older numbers, 118 for medical emergencies, 113 for police and 115 for fire, remain familiar to Italians and may still be heard in conversation or seen on signs.
Mountain rescue in Italy is provided by specialist teams working with the regional health service, and helicopters are used for most serious incidents on the slopes or in the high mountains.
When to call and what to say
Call an emergency number when there is a threat to life or health, a serious accident, a fire, a crime in progress or someone lost or injured in the mountains. For a minor illness, a pharmacy or doctor is more appropriate, and for lost property the local police station rather than the emergency line.
When you call, stay calm and give:
- Your exact location, using GPS coordinates or a landmark if you are outdoors
- What has happened and how many people are involved
- The condition of the injured person
- A phone number on which you can be called back
Do not hang up until the operator tells you to. On the mountain, if you can, stay with the injured person, mark the spot above them on the piste with crossed skis and keep them warm.
On the slopes and off-piste
Inside ski areas, pistes are patrolled and the ski patrol is usually the quickest help for skiing accidents on marked runs. The resort's emergency number is often printed on the piste map or the back of the lift pass, and lift staff can radio for assistance. Off-piste and on touring routes, rescue relies on the national services, which is why carrying a charged phone and knowing 112 matters. Emergency calls can usually be made even when your own network is unavailable, as the phone will use any network in range.
Make sure your travel insurance covers mountain rescue, as helicopter evacuation is normally charged in all three countries.
Travelling with peace of mind
Reserve with AirportsTransfers.ch and the fixed price for your vehicle is shown before you pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur follows the flight, greets you in arrivals with a name sign and waits if you are late. Child seats are provided on request and skis should be declared at booking. If your plans change because of an accident or illness, contact the team on +41 78 346 56 77, by phone or WhatsApp at any hour, to adjust your return.
