If you have just arrived in Switzerland and you do not speak the local language, here is a handy list of emergency phrases you can use if you call the ambulance (144).

Hang it on the door of your flat or keep it in your purse!

Hopefully you will never have to use it!

Any car accident is frightening, but an accident in which your vehicle is thrown into the water, with you trapped inside, is absolutely terrifying. Most deaths are a result of panic, not having a plan and not understanding what is happening to the car in the water. Learn how to survive from being trapped in a sinking vehicle , even if it’s a flooded river.

80 per cent of our lifetime exposure in the eye happens before 18, so it’s essential for children to stay protected from UV. Parents put sun cream on their kids, but they have to educate them to pop sunglasses on as well.

Children’s eyes are more susceptible to UV radiation than adult eyes because the lens inside a child’s eye is less capable of filtering these high-energy rays. This is especially true for young children, so it’s wise for kids to start wearing protective sunglasses outdoors as early in life as possible.

Pedaling and keeping balance – cycling is not so easy!

Cycling begins long before a child gets his first bike. Parents should teach their children early enough to become accustomed to mobility. First practice rides on the bike should happen in places without traffic. Children under six years of age are allowed to cycle on main roads only under the supervision of an adult.

Children should wear long pants and closed shoes to protect their skin in case of falls. It might also make sense to wear bike gloves to protect the hands when falling.

A Swiss start-up company launched a new application a couple of months ago to deal with everyday risks. The Smartwatcher App works on the Apple Watch and on smartphones (both Android and iOS) and is designed to enhance your safety and to help protect you.

Pepper spray is a popular self-defense tool, it is handy to protect yourself against attackers. The use of pepper spray with substances CO is legal in Switzerland above the age of 18. It is considered as dangerous product, but not classified as weapon, so no license is required.

Have you ever heard that you should take off children’s coats before buckling them into car seats, because winter coats can lead to increased injuries?

Slips and falls are the most common cause of accidents in Switzerland. More people get hurt in falling accidents every winter than in car accidents – annually about 175,000 cases. The main reasons: walking too fast on wet or icy roads, unsuitable footwear and imprudence.

Safety in winter – safety is rarely an everyday issue, but they should be: accidental injuries are one of the leading health problems in Switzerland. Let’s think trough the question: what does winter have to do with accidents? “It won’t happen to me” is not an attitude to take.  It could.  Moreover, as parents, no matter the age of our children, we should not only be aware of our own actions, but we should also ensure our children are well supervised. First thing to do is think ahead and be prepared!  This means predict what can happen and what to do in case an accident happens.