Europe

Switzerland

Location

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy.

Law abiding country - crime rate is low. Personal security, general travel, navigation, off road driving, cold weather injuries, terrain - Alps, personal hygiene, sanitation/sterilisation, clothing & equipment, emergency first aid, cultures/customs, communications, emergency shelters.

Local water is safe to drink.

Mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in north-west) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes.

Temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers.

Avalanches, landslides, flash floods.

Avian influenza.
Hospital: Inselspital, Freiburg Strasse 18, Bern 3010. Tel: 31-6322802

Air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilisers; loss of biodiversity.

All road users should follow instructions given by local police and officials on main alpine routes, at bottlenecks and areas of heavy traffic congestion. Alpine winters often make driving difficult. Equip your car for winter driving and carry snow chains.

For more in-depth general information please download our Preparation and Training document.