Emergencies in Verbier

Good to Know

• Save 112, 117, 118, 144, 145, 143, and 1414 (Rega) in your phone before you need them — Switzerland uses separate numbers per service rather than one all-purpose line like 911.
• Verbier is a serious mountain/ski environment: Rega (1414) for helicopter rescue and 1415 for glacier emergencies are worth knowing, especially if skiing off-piste, ski-touring, or hiking near glaciers.
• Rega is a donor-funded non-profit — non-patrons can face significant costs for a helicopter rescue, so travel insurance covering mountain rescue (or a short-term Rega patronage) is commonly recommended for active nomads based in Verbier.
• All standard emergency numbers (112, 117, 118, 144, 145) are free to call from any phone, including a foreign SIM with no credit.
• Switzerland has no free state-provided emergency healthcare — treatment is never withheld, but you will be billed afterward, so travel/health insurance matters even for short stays.
• Verbier itself does not have a full hospital — for anything beyond minor injuries, expect a transfer down the valley to Martigny, or to Sion for serious trauma.
• For life-threatening emergencies always call 144 (the Swiss national emergency medical number) rather than driving to a clinic — mountain rescue and helicopter evacuation are well established in this ski area.
• Swiss healthcare is billed directly and can be very expensive for foreigners without insurance — make sure you have valid travel/medical insurance (and an EHIC/GHIC if applicable) before arrival, since payment is generally expected on the spot or via insurance claim afterward.