Questions and answers on the subject of Rega app

Select the subject area for answers to frequently asked questions and further information.

• What happens when I initiate the test alarm?

  With the test alarm, you can make sure that the alarm feature will work correctly in an emergency. It checks whether your location can be retrieved and transmitted. As soon as you have successfully initiated a test alarm, you will receive a confirmation message. It does not set up an actual call with the Rega Operations Centre.

• I get the message "Loading failed" when I release the live position. What should I do?

  The problem with the "Share Live Location" function has since been fixed, and an update to 3.0.2 (iOS) should remedy the situation.

• Can I also initiate a test alarm abroad?

  Yes, the test alarm also works abroad. However, depending on your contract with your mobile phone provider, this could incur costs.

• Does the Rega app also work when I only have very poor reception or even none at all?

  In order for an alarm call to be initiated, at least a minimal connection with a mobile network is necessary. In the complete absence of any network coverage, it is not possible to raise the alarm and thus it is also not possible to contact the Operations Centre by mobile phone.

• The Rega app’s location feature doesn’t work or is not very accurate. What could be the reason for this?

  First, the location services feature needs to be enabled in your smartphone settings. To ensure that this feature will work reliably in an emergency, it is advisable to use it regularly. If you are, for example, inside a building or a cave, the GPS signal of your smartphone cannot be received. If possible, you should change your location and initiate the alarm call outside in the open air.

• I’m deaf. How can I contact Rega in the event of an emergency?

  For deaf people, we recommend the following:

  Download the Rega app onto your smartphone, select "Profile", then in the field marked "Family name" enter your family name as well as the words "deaf, via SMS" in brackets. Important: Only enter "(deaf, via SMS)" under "Family name" – if you raise the alarm, this field is always transmitted to the Rega Operations Centre.

  In the event of an emergency, you can alert Rega via the app. The data transmitted will inform the Rega Operations Centre that you are deaf or hearing impaired and will contact you by SMS, and also request further information about the emergency by SMS.

• I am often out and about in Alpine regions close to the Swiss border. How should I proceed in an emergency? Can I also alert Rega from areas bordering on Switzerland?

  If you find yourself in an emergency situation and are not sure on which side of the Swiss border you are, we recommend that you first contact Rega by using the Rega app.

  If, on the other hand, you are sure that you are outside Swiss territory, you should call the local rescue services, the European emergency number 112 or the number 911. Experience has shown that this is the quickest way to deal with emergencies beyond the Swiss border.

• What is the purpose of the "Live location" feature?

  When you are pursing outdoor activities (e.g. hiking), you can share your live location with Rega or your own contacts. Then friends or relatives can track your route.

  In an emergency, Rega can determine your last location and send help. You can also alert Rega on behalf of another person who has shared their location with you but is not able to raise the alarm themselves. In addition to your location, the location of the person in distress is then transmitted to the Rega Operations Centre – so that medical assistance gets to where it is needed as quickly as possible.

• How long is my location data stored for?

  Rega generally stores your location data for a maximum of 96 hours, after which it is deleted. Other personal details are stored for as long as the app is installed on your smartphone or, if it is optional data, until you delete them.

  In the event that a mission is carried out, the relevant data is retained together with the mission data, and the provisions laid down in Rega’s General Data Protection Statement apply.

• I get an error message in the Rega app. What should I do?

  Before the release of the new version, we tested the Rega app extensively on various devices and operating systems. Unfortunately, it can happen that errors occur in certain constellations that cannot be detected in the previous testing, or only with difficulty. Please report the error to us with a short description at info@rega.ch. Errors reported to us will be addressed immediately and corrected on an ongoing basis.

• Who can see and track my live location when I share it via the Rega app?

  The only people who can see your live location are those to whom you sent the link from the Rega app. In order for your location to be displayed, the recipient of the link must also have installed the Rega app.

• How long does my location data remain visible after I have disabled the "Live location" feature?

  Your location data is automatically deleted as soon as the "Live location" feature has been disabled.

• Can I also use the "Live location" feature abroad?

  Yes, but in order to transmit your live location to Rega or your designated contacts, the Rega app requires a mobile data connection. Depending on your contract with your mobile phone provider, this could incur costs.

• Why do I need to verify my mobile phone number?

  This enables us to check whether the number entered really is the correct one for the smartphone on which the various features have been enabled. In the event of an emergency, a correct phone number is vital for a rescue to be performed as efficiently as possible.

• Why do I need to enter my personal details and phone number under “Profile” in the smartphone settings?

  Your personal details are extremely helpful for our Operations Centre. Important: It is not mandatory to enter your personal data to be able use the app to raise the alarm.

  However, we recommend that you at least enter and verify your mobile phone number so that Rega can contact you in an emergency.

  To ensure that your profile details are complete, we also recommend that you enter your patronage number and your postcode. Then your personal details can be clearly assigned to a specific Rega patronage. These details are transmitted when the alarm is raised, and after a mission they also help to ensure that the administrative work is completed as efficiently as possible.

• I would like to use the Rega app in another language. How do I do this?

  The language in which the Rega app is displayed depends on the language setting on your device. The app is available in German, French, Italian and English. If your smartphone is set to another language than these, the Rega app will automatically default to English.

  Therefore, you can use the German, French, Italian or English version of the Rega app simply by enabling the appropriate language setting on your device.

• Why should I download the Rega app?

  The main function of the Rega app is to call out Rega quickly and easily in an emergency. You can alert Rega with a tap of the finger. Your location is then automatically transmitted directly to the Operations Centre. This saves valuable time in an emergency. The user-friendly Rega app should therefore be installed on every smartphone.

  Besides Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the new version of the Rega app is also available for download in the app stores in Germany, Austria, France and Italy. This benefits tourists from neighbouring countries who are out and about in Switzerland, as well as piste rescue services close to the Swiss border, who frequently use the app to call out Rega direct from the ski slopes.

  An overview of all the features of the Rega app can be found here.

• For which operating systems is the Rega app available?

  The Rega app is available for iOS and Android and can be downloaded free of charge in the app stores in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, France and Italy.

  In order to ensure that the app functions correctly at all times and can fulfil its purpose, we are forced for technical reasons to adapt it to the current devices and operating systems. This means that some older operating systems and devices are no longer supported. To install the app, you will need Android 6.0/iOS 13 or higher.

  If the Rega app is not available for a particular mobile device, the Rega Operations Centre offers another way to locate a person in an emergency. In order to pinpoint the precise location of a smartphone owner, they are sent an SMS containing a link. By opening this link, the recipient can then transmit their coordinates to the Operations Centre via a mobile website.

  The prerequisites for this procedure are a data-capable smartphone with GPS receiver and sufficient network coverage. In addition, the location services feature should be enabled in the smartphone settings and the use of the location authorised for the mobile browser. Smartphones with a foreign SIM card must also enable data roaming.

• In which countries is the Rega app available?

  The Rega app is available in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well in as the neighbouring countries Germany, Austria, Italy and France.

  The Rega app is currently not available in other app stores.

• Can using the Rega app incur additional costs?

  Like many other apps, the Rega app requires a mobile data connection to perform certain functions (e.g. displaying the map, downloading more detailed information or raising the alarm). Depending on your contract with your mobile phone provider, this may result in certain charges being payable.

• In what way is the Rega app different to standard GPS devices?

  When the alarm is raised via the Rega app, the caller’s location is transmitted directly to Rega’s Operations Centre. The flight coordinator sees this location directly on the map on their monitor, and can thus mobilise the appropriate means of rescue more quickly. The automatic transfer of data also prevents errors from occurring, which might otherwise arise when giving coordinates verbally in a stress situation.

  Besides the coordinates, the personal details stored in the app, as well as information about the battery level of the smartphone, are transmitted to Rega – data that in certain circumstances can be important for the further communication between the Operations Centre and the person raising the alarm.

• Is the Rega app suitable for safeguarding employees working alone?

  No, the Rega app was not developed in accordance with the legal provisions governing emergency call systems for people working alone. There are specially designed solutions on the market, such as safety apps or hardware-based devices, which should meet the statutory requirements relating to lone worker safety laid down by FCOS (Federal Coordination Commission for Occupational Safety) or Suva (Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund).

• I have a question about the Rega app that isn’t answered in the "Frequently Asked Questions". How should I proceed?

  The best way is to contact us via our contact form. We would then be pleased to answer any questions you may have.