Every first Wednesday in February, Geneva tests its security installations (sirens). It's a national thing - but I don't know whether it's the first Wednesday in February in other cantons too.

So it is normal - you can leave your hiding-place under your desk, you are safe.

If ever Switzerland was attacked on such a day, nobody would think of danger - because everyone thinks that it would be just a test as every year....

There will be one more.....  They are just checking them if I understood correctly on the bus. They also mentioned it in an add a couple of days ago on the tv...

That was so scary!! I don't know what it was!

Just read in the paper.  It was the annual Swiss Alerting system testing.  Ignore

Same old thing going on for years - practising their alarms!!!!! Like, are your fallout shelters still running? looool

Nothing to worry about...

Now guys imagine this: THERE IS an atomic attack.

THE SWISS ALL HAVE FALLOUT SHELTERS.

We are the only SURVIVORS - now how scary does that sound????

I think it's hilarious! so swiss!!!!! and also, such a bizarre experience right? it feels like we're going to be attacked by an air raid...

:S I am not sure I liked that.

Only got here on sunday and then this morning OH went off to Milan on business for the night and I am always nervous of staying in a strange place on my own and then the next thing I know theres sirens and I'm running around the apartment like a headless chicken trying to find somewhere to hide!

I am sure OH will be very amused when I tell him.

Thanks all, I was just wondering myself what's going on!

Charlotte that's so funny! me too! My partner is going to think i'm a complete numpty when i tell him! ;0)

what are the sirens for in the first place? incase of an invasion? This is quite amusing as an Australian. If anyone made it to attack Australia they would probably have a nap first. Even in the event of a national bushfire, we just get sent the old text message to our mobile phones to request our departure. 

I was in Slovakia in my wifes home town recently when the proper old school air raid siren went off...bloody hilarious.

The sirons were installed before WW2 as a warning system.. Then when the war ended, they kept them up for national emergencies (in case, say, of an earthquake or nuclear plant melt-down). They just test them once a year to make sure they're all still working. There's also a special siren for floods (in case a dam breaks or it rains like there's no tomorrow).

We're lucky it's only once a year, in France it's every month! Although I have to say the French siren is nowhere near as terrifying as this one -- I thought the military barracks were under attack!!!!

(And yes, the common joke is that we're all scared the Germans will invade again)