What to do if mushroom poisoning is suspected in Switzerland

Call the correct service immediately

If mushroom poisoning is suspected in Switzerland, contact Tox Info Suisse on 145 for immediate professional guidance. Call 144 when the situation is life-threatening. Do not wait to identify the species, finish an online discussion or see whether symptoms disappear. A person can need advice even when the mushroom is unknown or symptoms seem nonspecific. Give clear information about who was exposed, what may have been eaten, when it happened and what symptoms are present, then follow the professional's instructions.

• Call 145 for suspected poisoning in Switzerland.
• Call 144 for a life-threatening emergency.
• State who, what, when and which symptoms.
• Follow the professional's instructions exactly.

Never induce vomiting

Do not induce vomiting or give improvised remedies. These actions can create additional harm and may complicate professional care. Do not rely on milk, alcohol, salt water or another household response to neutralise an unknown toxin. Keep the person supervised as appropriate and follow the instructions from 145 or 144. MycoRadar provides educational information only; it cannot assess the exposure, interpret symptoms or replace a toxicology professional. The safest immediate action is a call, not an experiment.

Preserve useful evidence

Keep uncooked and cooked leftovers, cleaning scraps, packaging, photographs and the collection notes available. Do not handle material in a way that creates another exposure, and follow any storage or transport directions given by professionals. Record the approximate meal time and who ate which portion if known. Images of the original habitat and complete specimens may assist specialists, but they should never delay the call. Evidence is helpful only after the emergency pathway has been activated.

Do not seek reassurance from the app

The app cannot rule out poisoning, and a photo match or another diner's wellbeing provides no medical clearance. Handle the present concern through the Swiss services described above, not by trying to name the mushroom again. For future meals, take complete finds to a VAPKO inspection centre while their characters remain readable. Let trained professionals assess the actual exposure and decide the next step.