Swiss Nothelferkurs First Aid Study Guide 2026

The course and your learner licence

To apply for a learner (provisional) driving licence (Lernfahrausweis), you must first complete a first aid course. People call it the Nothelferkurs; the federal rules call it the Nothilfekurs. You can normally apply from one month before your 17th birthday.

Rule	Detail
Length	At least 10 hours including breaks
Days	Spread over at least two days
Practice	About 70% hands-on exercises
Exam	None; certificate only for full attendance
Validity	6 years from the date of issue
Providers	Must be recognised by the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA)

The course covers getting an overview of the scene, calling for help, safety and hygiene, checking the patient and life-saving measures, stress, basic anatomy, and your rights and duties. Doctors, some health professionals and certified instructors can be exempt.

Look, think, act and calling for help

Swiss courses teach a traffic light scheme: look (red) at the whole situation, think (orange) about dangers, then act (green): protect yourself, give first aid and call for help. Never put yourself in danger.

Number	Service
144	Ambulance / medical emergency
117	Police
118	Fire service
145	Tox Info Suisse (poisoning)
1414	Rega air rescue
112	European emergency number

When you call, answer the W questions: where, who is calling (and a call-back number), what happened, when, how many people are hurt, and any special dangers. Hang up only when the dispatcher says they have everything. Use speaker mode so your hands are free.

Your duty to help

Swiss law expects everyone to help within their abilities, even if that only means calling 144. Doing nothing when help was possible can be punished (Article 128 of the Criminal Code). People involved in a road accident must stop, make the scene safe, help the injured and inform the police (Article 51 of the Road Traffic Act). Helpers who act in good faith are protected.

Unresponsive person, CPR and AED

Check for danger, then check if the person responds.
Check breathing for no more than 10 seconds. Slow gasping is not normal breathing.
Not breathing normally: call 144 at once and start CPR.
Send someone for an AED and switch it on as soon as it arrives.

CPR step	Adult
Hand position	Centre of the chest
Depth	5 to 6 cm
Rate	100 to 120 per minute
Ratio	30 compressions : 2 breaths
No breaths?	Compressions only is acceptable

An AED speaks to you. One pad goes below the right collarbone next to the breastbone, the other on the left side under the armpit. Each minute without defibrillation lowers the chance of survival by about 10%. After a shock, restart compressions at once.

In drowning, give 5 rescue breaths first, then start CPR. A person who is unresponsive but breathing normally and not injured goes into the recovery position; keep checking their breathing.

Choking, bleeding, burns and fractures

Choking adult or child over one: 5 firm back blows between the shoulder blades, then 5 abdominal thrusts. Repeat. If they become unresponsive, call 144 and start CPR.
Choking baby under one: hold them head-down along your arm, give 5 back blows, then 5 chest compressions just below the nipple line.
Heavy bleeding: press firmly on the wound with whatever you have. Call 144 and keep pressing until help arrives.
Burns: cool under running, lukewarm water for at least 10 minutes, then cover with a dry dressing. If the burn needs medical care, cover it loosely with cling film or a clean plastic bag.
Fractures: stop unnecessary movement with cushions or clothing. Call 144 if the limb is deformed, very painful or the person cannot move.

Sudden illness

Problem	Signs	What to do
Stroke	FAST: face droops on one side, arm weak, speech unclear	Call 144 at once and reassure the person
Heart attack	Crushing chest pain, or discomfort in arm, neck, jaw, back or stomach	Call 144, let them sit against a wall; aspirin only if the dispatcher says so
Seizure	Sudden jerking, loss of awareness	Do not hold them; pad beside the head; recovery position afterwards
Low blood sugar	Pale, sweaty, confused (person with diabetes)	Give a sugary drink or sweets, not diet drinks
Severe allergy	Rash, swelling of face or throat, trouble breathing	Help with their adrenaline auto-injector; call 144
Poisoning	Unusual behaviour, drowsiness, breathing trouble	Call 145 (or 144 if serious); do not make them vomit
Hypothermia	Cold, shivering, slow	Call 144, warm slowly, warm drinks only if awake
Heatstroke	Hot red skin, confusion, vomiting	Call 144, move to shade, cool with damp cloths and fanning

With poisoning, find out what was taken, when and how much before you call.