Health & emergencies

Last checked: 5 Oct 2026. Unofficial student guide, not EPFL or government advice: confirm on the linked official pages before you act. Unfamiliar abbreviation? See the Glossary.

Pointers only, not medical advice. Confirm numbers and procedures on the official pages.

Print the emergency sheet: all the numbers and your ICE contacts on one page, see Emergency contacts and ICE sheet.

• On EPFL campus (24/7): call EPFL’s emergency line +41 21 693 30 00 (from an EPFL landline: 115), or use SOS in the EPFL Campus app. EPFL asks you to use these campus numbers for a faster on-site response rather than dialling 144 or 112 first while on campus, see EPFL, Health emergencies and EPFL, Rescue / emergencies.
• Off campus, life-threatening medical emergency: 144 (ambulance). General overview of campus rescue: same EPFL emergencies pages above.
• Victim of violence or another offence: call 142, the national victim-support line (since 1 May 2026; free, confidential, 24/7). 142 is not an emergency number: in immediate danger call 117 (police), 144 (ambulance) or 118 (fire). Next steps and Vaud LAVI centres: Free legal advice: victim support · État de Vaud, 142.
• Sirens and public alerts: the annual siren test, the Alertswiss app and what to do if a real alert comes: see Alertswiss, sirens and public alerts.
• Vaccinations (adult catch-up, flu, COVID, measles; after an animal bite, go to an emergency department): see Vaccinations in Vaud.
• Dentist or dental costs: dental care is mostly not covered by LAMal; finding a dentist and the 24/7 dental on-call line: see Dental care and LAMal.
• Physiotherapy (back pain, sports injury, rehab): LAMal pays only with a doctor's prescription: see Physiotherapy and basic health insurance (LAMal).
• Student mental-health support (appointments): EPFL, Psychotherapeutic consultation (CHUV psychiatrists/psychologists on campus; emergencies: campus numbers above, or 144 off campus).
• EPFL Social consultation (Consultation sociale): free, neutral, confidential help for students and PhDs (stress, admin, money/scholarships, health-related study issues, referrals). French or English; campus or online. Email consultation.sociale@epfl.ch. EPFL: emails are checked every business day, with a response within 48 hours. EPFL Social consultation · FR: Consultation sociale. Money problems? See Money help for students.