Meeting points & messengers

How to plan

• Two meeting points: one in the neighbourhood, one outside
• Agree a message location (e.g. letterbox, pinboard)
• Fixed times: e.g. on the hour at the meeting point
• Code words for "all OK" / "help needed"

Why paper maps are indispensable

A paper map needs no power, no network and no battery – it always works. That is exactly what makes it the most reliable orientation aid in an emergency, when phone navigation and online maps fail. The official national maps of Switzerland come from swisstopo, the Federal Office of Topography.

For preparing and printing, the federal government's free online map viewer, map.geo.admin.ch, is suitable. There you can view and print sections at various scales – the printed or purchased map then belongs, ready to hand, to the emergency equipment.

• swisstopo (swisstopo.admin.ch) publishes the official national maps.
• map.geo.admin.ch: free, for viewing and printing map sections.
• Pack the map waterproof (clear sleeve) and store it in the backpack/household.
• For beginners: print a map of your home region now and put it with the emergency equipment.
• Expert tip: a purchased, folded swisstopo map holds up more robustly than a printout – for the region you move around in most often, it is worth it.

Reading maps: scale, contour lines, coordinates

The scale tells how much reality is reduced: at 1:25'000, 1 cm on the map corresponds to 250 m in the terrain. Rule of thumb: the smaller the second number, the more detail – but the smaller the section shown.

Contour lines connect points of equal height; their spacing (the contour interval) is given at the map edge next to the scale. Lines close together mean steep terrain, far apart mean flat. Added to this are the north arrow for orientation and the legend, which explains all the symbols (paths, waters, buildings).

You can specify a point unambiguously with the Swiss coordinates (LV95). Every location has an easting (E) and a northing (N) in metres – in LV95 seven digits, starting with 2 (east) resp. 1 (north). Whoever states E and N describes a point unmistakably; the rough kilometre square results from the kilometre digits of both values.

• 1:25'000 – the highest level of detail, ideal for hiking and local orientation.
• 1:50'000 – a good overview of a region (basis of many tour and hiking maps).
• 1:100'000 and smaller – large-area planning, little detail.
• Contour lines: close = steep, far apart = flat; the contour interval is given at the map edge.
• Swiss coordinates LV95: point = easting (E) + northing (N) in metres; replaced the old LV03 in 2017.
• For beginners: lay the map out to the north once (north arrow = upwards) and look for prominent points in your surroundings – this way you get a feel for the scale.
• Expert tip: note meeting points directly as LV95 coordinates (e.g. read off from map.geo.admin.ch) – this is more unambiguous than any location description and can be passed on to rescuers.

Agreeing meeting points correctly

Meeting points only work if they are agreed IN ADVANCE – in an emergency you can no longer coordinate anything. Choose fixed, unambiguous, easy-to-find places, ideally prominent terrain points that cannot be confused even in darkness or under stress.

Always set a primary and an alternative meeting point – one in the neighbourhood, one outside, in case the neighbourhood is not reachable. Also agree times, such as "on the hour at the meeting point", so that you do not keep missing each other. Mark both points on the paper map.

• Primary + alternative meeting point (neighbourhood / outside).
• Choose prominent, unambiguous terrain points – no vague "by the tree".
• Agree fixed times (e.g. on the hour).
• Mark both points on the map, agree a legend for your own symbols, mark waterproof.
• For beginners: also use your municipality's official emergency meeting points (official BABS map) as a fixed point – know yours.
• Expert tip: additionally store each meeting point as an LV95 coordinate, so that it can be named unambiguously independently of the map.

Setting signs and sending messengers

If you miss each other, left-behind messages and signs help. At agreed places (message board, letterbox, a marked stone) messages can be deposited. For signs to be unambiguous, their meanings must be agreed in advance – a symbol that no one can interpret is worthless.

If that is not enough, a messenger takes over: a person who delivers a message in person. The message should be written, dated and provided with a sender, so that the recipient knows who it comes from and how up-to-date it is.

• Ground signs/markings only at places agreed in advance – otherwise they are overlooked or misunderstood.
• Define the symbols and their meaning IN ADVANCE (e.g. arrow = "moved on towards …", X = "not here").
• Messenger message: written, with date, time and sender; short and unambiguous.
• Pack messages waterproof if they lie around for longer.
• For beginners: agree a simple code word for "all OK" and one for "help needed" – usable both verbally and in writing.
• Expert tip: lay down a small, shared sign legend in writing and give each family member a copy for the emergency plan.

Good to know

• The municipality also defines emergency meeting points – know yours
• Pack notes waterproof (clear sleeve)
• Children must know the plan by heart

Further sources

• Emergency meeting points (FOCP) Official locations
• Alertswiss Personal emergency plan
• swisstopo Official national maps
• map.geo.admin.ch View & print maps