Checklist · Stay informed
Information & radio
Stay informed when the mobile network and the internet fail – with an emergency radio, radio communication and an analogue family plan.
Last reviewed on 26.07.2026
This template can be saved and customised in your account as your own tickable checklist.
Sign in and adoptReceiving
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Crank or battery radio with DAB+ and FM | — | DAB+ for everyday use, FM for an emergency: the federal emergency radio then broadcasts more on FM – right into the protection shelter |
| Spare batteries | — | — |
| Know the emergency radio: SRF 1 / RTS Première / RSI Rete Uno | — | no list of frequencies needed – in an emergency the FM station scan is enough; additional information on alert.swiss and Teletext page 680 |
| Alertswiss & MeteoSwiss installed | — | first choice while the network is intact – if the power or the mobile network fails, information comes over the radio |
| Know the siren signals (siren test: first Wednesday in February, 13:30) | — | rising and falling wailing tone (1 minute) = general alarm: listen to the radio, check alert.swiss, inform the neighbours; 12 low continuous tones near dams = water alarm: leave the area immediately |
| Car radio as a backup | — | receives DAB+ and FM off the car battery – a backup if the radio or batteries at home run out; never run the engine for it in a closed garage |
Transmitting & radio
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile phone emergency plan: save battery (airplane mode, battery saver), short text messages instead of calls | — | text messages put less strain on the overloaded network and arrive with a delay; power bank: see the «Energy & light» checklist |
| PMR446 or CB radios | — | licence-exempt; the realistic range in built-up areas is often under 1 km, considerably more with a clear line of sight – test it beforehand |
| Mesh device (Meshtastic) | — | set region EU_868 – then no authorisation is needed (869.4–869.65 MHz, max. 500 mW, 10 % duty-cycle limit); switch over imported devices with a US preset first |
| Amateur radio | — | a licence is required – start with the NOVICE exam (call sign HB3) at OFCOM, preparatory courses at the USKA; without a licence, transmitting is not provided for, not even in an emergency |
| Signal whistle & torch (morse) | — | — |
Analogue plan B
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Contact list on paper | — | — |
| Emergency numbers on paper: 112 · 117 police · 118 fire brigade · 144 ambulance · 1414 Rega · 145 poisoning | — | — |
| Family emergency plan | — | — |
| Meeting points agreed – at home, in the neighbourhood, plus the municipality's emergency meeting point | — | official emergency meeting points: notfalltreffpunkt.ch; also agree on a family code word that callers and people collecting someone use to identify themselves |
| Pen & waterproof paper | — | — |