Medical care
The professional health care services provide the population and the intervention services with medical care, including precautionary measures and psychological support.
Cantonal responsibility
Issues relative to personnel, organisation, equipment, training and financing of the health services, including rescue and first aid, are settled at cantonal level. The cantons must establish the necessary structures and provide the resources. They decide what additional resources (personnel, medication, equipment, protected facilities for patients, and others) - also those of the P&S units - are to be put on stand-by for the event of a disaster or emergency.
Cooperation with the other CP partner organisations
The first aid services are primary intervention resources. Cooperation with the police and with the fire services is routine. Specially trained P&S units may be called up when necessary.
Federal support
To cope with disasters and emergencies with a high number of patients (epidemics, earthquakes, radioactive contamination) and in the case of armed conflict, the Confederation sets up a first aid coordination and management team (staff unit) and additional resources. It prescribes precautionary measures for the event of armed conflict, above all the maintenance of a protected first aid infrastructure, and a certain level of material readiness.