Raising awareness of disasters: Uncertainty in emergency situations is growing and trust is eroding

Confidence in Switzerland’s emergency care system remains remarkably stable. Emergency services continue to enjoy the highest level of trust, at 98 per cent, whilst healthcare professionals have a 96 per cent approval rating. Even among those who have experienced a medical emergency themselves in the past two years, the majority feel they are in good hands, with 93 per cent rating their experiences positively.

At the same time, there are signs of a more critical view of the system. For instance, confidence in various organisations involved in emergency response has fallen slightly compared with the previous year. The study suggests that it is not so much individual institutions that are affected, but rather that there is a growing awareness of the potential limitations of emergency care.

The quality of emergency care is assessed differently depending on the location. Care in towns and cities is rated particularly highly. Tourist regions also receive high approval ratings.

The assessment is significantly more critical in areas that are difficult to access. In mountainous areas, the perceived quality of emergency care has fallen by 12 percentage points compared with the previous year, to 62 per cent. In remote regions, it stands at 46 per cent, the lowest figure of all the areas surveyed. The results should be viewed in the context of several high-profile incidents at the start of 2026, including, in particular, the catastrophic fire in Crans-Montana, which is likely to have heightened public awareness of issues relating to emergency care.

This shift is particularly evident in people’s assessment of their own emergency response skills. The public is less confident in their ability to carry out numerous emergency procedures than they were a year ago. This applies both to more complex procedures, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and to basic actions such as making an emergency call or guiding the emergency services to the scene. This trend suggests not so much an actual loss of competence as an increased awareness when dealing with emergency situations and, consequently, a more critical self-assessment.

Among TCS members, however, the picture is different. Their assessment of their own emergency preparedness, as well as that of the general public, remains largely stable compared with last year. The trend is therefore significantly less concerning than among the resident population.

This growing caution when assessing one’s own abilities goes hand in hand with a strong desire for further training. More than 80 per cent of the population are in favour of regular refresher courses in first aid and emergency response. A frequency of around five years is particularly popular.

It is worth noting that continuing professional development is not merely seen as a way of making up for a lack of knowledge. People whose skills are rated more highly actually show a particularly strong willingness to refresh their knowledge on a regular basis. Continuing professional development is thus seen as a way of maintaining and building on their confidence in their work in the long term.