Emergency preparedness for people with special needs

Why tailored preparedness?

The federal government's emergency supplies are deliberately kept general: food for around one week and at least 9 litres of water per person. The Federal Office for National Economic Supply stresses that the supplies should match personal needs – the federal emergency supplies calculator takes household size and special needs into account.

For people who depend on long-term medication, medicines requiring refrigeration, power-dependent devices or assistive devices, a crisis – power outage, severe weather, pandemic, supply shortage – can become critical more quickly. That is why it is worth planning ahead additionally here and discussing the preparations with your doctor, pharmacy or specialist service.

You will find the basics in our guides on emergency supplies, the home medicine cabinet and the emergency bag. This guide shows the additions for special needs.

How do I secure a supply of long-term medication?

Personal medication explicitly belongs in the emergency supplies – stored in a cool, dry place, protected from light. Alertswiss recommends always keeping a stock of regularly needed medication or even carrying it with you, and discussing the preparations with your family doctor. The federal government deliberately does not specify a fixed official number of reserve days for long-term medication; clarify with your doctor or pharmacy how much of a reserve makes sense for you and how you obtain it.

According to the Federal Office of Public Health, it is precisely the chronically ill who are particularly affected by supply shortages and who cannot simply switch to substitute products – a buffer and reordering in good time are therefore important.

In addition, draw up a current list of your medication and allergies and keep it to hand – ideally also on paper, in case the power and your mobile phone fail.

1. Build up a supply of long-term medication and store it separately
2. Clarify the quantity, resupply and prescription (repeat/long-term prescription) with your doctor or pharmacy
3. Draw up a current list of medication and allergies – also on paper
4. Rotate on the «first in, first out» principle and keep an eye on expiry dates

How do I store insulin during a power outage?

Some medication has to be refrigerated – the best-known example is insulin. Unopened supplies are stored in the refrigerator at 2–8 °C, but not directly against the back wall or in the freezer compartment: frozen insulin becomes ineffective and must no longer be used afterwards, even if it looks normal. Insulin that has been opened will – depending on the preparation – also keep for a limited time at room temperature (often for a few weeks). The exact period depends on the preparation and is stated in the package insert or the information for healthcare professionals.

In the event of a power outage or when you are on the move, non-electric cool bags that hold the temperature without a battery help – available from Diabetes Switzerland and the regional diabetes associations. Carry insulin and accessories in your hand luggage and never leave them in the blazing sun or in a hot car; heat reduces effectiveness.

Important: specific time limits («keeps for X hours without refrigeration») differ from preparation to preparation – if in doubt, check the package insert or ask your pharmacy or diabetes advice service. This section does not replace medical advice.

1. Store unopened supplies in the refrigerator at 2–8 °C – do not freeze, do not place against the freezer compartment
2. Use an opened preparation at room temperature in accordance with the package insert
3. Keep a non-electric cool bag ready for power outages and when on the move
4. Protect from heat and direct sunlight; carry in your hand luggage

Power-dependent medical devices

Oxygen concentrators, ventilators/CPAP machines or electric care beds need electricity. According to the Swiss Lung Association (on the basis of the Swiss Society of Pneumology), a power outage does not as a rule pose an immediate danger to life: stay calm, avoid any physical exertion. In the event of persistent severe shortness of breath, call the emergency medical number 144 – bear in mind that the telephone can also fail during a power outage.

Clarify in advance with your family doctor, your specialist or the responsible advice centre (e.g. the Swiss Lung Association) which precautions make sense for you. Portable oxygen concentrators should be charged in advance; for smaller devices, a charged power bank or a rechargeable battery can bridge the gap. In a managed electricity shortage, private households are the least affected by shutdowns.

A formal system for registering with the electricity supplier as «vitally dependent on electricity» is not documented for Switzerland – individual households cannot technically be supplied separately. All the more important are individual arrangements with your doctor and specialist service and an emergency plan setting out who helps in an emergency.

1. List which devices need electricity and clarify alternatives with your doctor or specialist service
2. Charge the portable oxygen concentrator in advance; keep a power bank/rechargeable battery ready
3. Stay calm, avoid exertion; in the event of severe shortness of breath, 144 (the telephone can fail)
4. Also keep important medical and device data on paper

Reserves for assistive devices

Official emergency supplies lists mention «spare batteries» and individually required items in generic terms. For people who use assistive devices, a personal reserve is worthwhile – the following list is an editorial recommendation, not an official detailed list, and supplements the principle of «what you need individually».

1. Spare batteries for hearing aids (correct size, sufficient stock)
2. Spare glasses or your current glasses prescription/contact lenses with accessories
3. A stock of consumables (e.g. stoma, catheter and incontinence supplies)
4. Accessories and simple spare parts for the wheelchair/rollator (tyres, tools)
5. Power bank/charger for battery-operated assistive devices

Alerting people with a hearing or visual impairment

The classic siren alarm reaches people with a hearing impairment only inadequately. The Alertswiss app of the Federal Office for Civil Protection supplements the siren and alerts by push notification – according to the FOCP, this explicitly also applies to people with a hearing impairment; the Swiss Federation of the Deaf (SGB-FSS) confirms this as an alarm system suitable for deaf people. Install and activate the app on your smartphone and allow the notifications.

The annual siren test takes place on the first Wednesday in February (in 2026 on 4 February): from 13:30 the «general alarm» (a rising and falling wailing tone), followed in areas below dams by the «flood alarm». In a real general alarm: listen to the radio, check the Alertswiss channels, follow the instructions of the authorities and inform your neighbours.

For blind people, the acoustic siren and the radio remain effective; the app additionally provides text and image information that can be used with a screen reader. An official special alerting system going beyond this, solely for blind people, is not documented.

Infants & toddlers

Infant food and special food explicitly belong in the emergency supplies – the federal government explicitly lists «special food (e.g. for infants, people with allergies)». Remember that powdered milk needs clean water for preparation (see drinking water supply). The federal emergency supplies calculator helps to adapt the quantities to the household.

In addition – as a practical supplement, not as an official requirement – a supply of nappies, wet wipes and hygiene items as well as a clinical thermometer is advisable. How much you stock depends on your child's age and consumption.

1. A stock of infant/special food (plus clean water for preparation)
2. Nappies and wet wipes for several days
3. Hygiene items and a clinical thermometer
4. Children's personal medication and a medication list

Pregnancy

In Switzerland there is no official, standardised maternity record («Mutterpass») as in Germany or Austria. You can ask your doctor or midwife for a printout of your pregnancy data – that gives you security when you are on the move and in an emergency. Keep these papers to hand together with your other important documents.

As a general precaution (not as an official recommendation): keep the contact details of your gynaecology practice and maternity hospital as well as your planned route there to hand. Which documents the maternity hospital requires differs from hospital to hospital – ask your hospital directly for the list, usually in good time before the calculated due date.

Older people & people living alone

Anyone who lives alone or has reduced mobility benefits from a reliable network of contacts. Make firm arrangements and agree signals with your neighbours on how you will help each other in an emergency. A personal alarm system (emergency button or emergency watch, e.g. from Pro Senectute) can call for help in the event of a fall or an emergency and alert the stored emergency contacts.

Keep your important advance care documents ready and in order – Pro Senectute bundles the living will (Patientenverfügung), the advance care directive (Vorsorgeauftrag) and the advance care card (Vorsorgeausweis) in the Docupass. That way, relatives and rescue workers quickly find the necessary details in an emergency.

1. Make firm arrangements and agree signals with your neighbours
2. Look into a personal alarm system and store emergency contacts
3. Keep advance care documents (living will, advance care directive) to hand
4. Sufficient supplies and assistive devices for times when you cannot go shopping

Emergency contact & neighbourhood network

An emergency plan records the most important telephone numbers and emergency contacts, family meeting points and the information on which people in the family or neighbourhood need to be helped. Alertswiss provides an emergency plan for this, which you can also store in the app.

If communication fails, the emergency meeting point (Notfalltreffpunkt, NTP) is the first point of contact: there the authorities provide information and emergency calls can be made. You will find the locations in the Alertswiss app and at notfalltreffpunkt.ch. Agree early on with relatives and neighbours who will look in on people in need of help in an emergency.

Important emergency numbers

Save the most important numbers in your mobile phone and note them down on paper: 144 emergency medical number, 145 Tox Info Suisse (poisoning, 24 h), 1414 Rega (air rescue), 143 «Die Dargebotene Hand» (crisis counselling) and 147 (counselling for children and young people). In addition, 112 (European emergency number), 117 police and 118 fire brigade apply.

Spitex is responsible for nursing support at home; there is no nationwide short number – use the number of your regional Spitex organisation. In a medical emergency, 144 always applies.

Common mistakes

1. Forgetting long-term medication: it is the first thing to run short in the emergency supplies and the hardest to replace – clarify stock and resupply early with your doctor/pharmacy
2. Freezing insulin or placing it against the freezer compartment: frozen insulin becomes ineffective and can no longer be used
3. No non-electric means of cooling for medicines requiring refrigeration during a power outage
4. Panicking over power-dependent devices instead of staying calm – discuss a plan in advance with your doctor/specialist service and keep a rechargeable battery/power bank ready
5. Relying on the siren when you have a hearing impairment: install the Alertswiss app and allow push notifications
6. Overlooking reserves for assistive devices: hearing-aid batteries, spare glasses and consumables get lost in the standard emergency supplies
7. Planning alone without a network of contacts: no arrangements with neighbours and no stored emergency contacts

Frequently asked questions

Official sources

• FONES We advise – emergency supplies
• Alertswiss Emergency plan & emergency contacts
• FOCP Alertswiss app & alerting
• FOCP siren test Siren test & alarm signals
• Swiss Lung Association Electricity shortage & breathing aids
• Pro Senectute Docupass & advance care planning
• Emergency meeting point Point of contact when an incident occurs
• Tox Info Suisse Poison helpline 145 (24 h)
• Guide: Build an emergency supply One week's supply for the home
• Guide: Home medicine cabinet Contents, storage, stock
• Guide: Pack an emergency bag Ready when things have to move fast
• Guide: 72-hour plan for the family Contacts, meeting point, first days
• Guide: Emergency power & solar Power for important devices
• Guide: Siren alarm Behaviour during an alarm
• Guide: Pets in an emergency Preparedness for animals
• Scenario: Power outage When the power fails
• Scenario: Energy shortage Electricity shortage & OSTRAL
• Emergency medicine: Poisoning First aid, Tox 145
• Emergency supply calculator Calculate supply quantities incl. children and pets