Medical Services on Tibet Trains

Medical Services on Tibet Trains

With the highest altitude along the Qinghai – Tibet Railway reaching more than 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) above sea level, altitude sickness is a possibilty for some travelers. All trains to Tibet are equipped with oxygen supplies and medical services to treat any passenger that may develop high altitude sickness.

Emergency Buttons There are two buttons in all of the toilet facilities on Tibet trains. The green one is used for flushing the toilet while the red one is an emergency button to be used in any emergency. If you feel dizzy, ill or out of breath, you can press the red emergency button and a trained attendant will immediately come to your assistance.

Oxygen Outlets

Oxygen outlets are readily available on Tibet trains. Upon arrival in Golmud, the additional supply of oxygen commences. You can then ask the train conductors for an oxygen tube if needed. If you are feeling any ill effects due to oxygen deprivation, you can connect the disposable oxygen tube to the oxygen outlet in order to breathe more freely. It’s better to avoid using the additional oxygen though in order to acclimatize to the higher elevation more quickly.

Ask Medical Staff for Help

If the oxygen supplement doesn’t help with your altitude sickness, don’t hesitate to ask the train conductor to call the medical staff for you. Every train to Tibet has modern facilities to help deal with any medical emergencies on board the trains. Experienced doctors and trained nurses are available to provide timely and effective first aid to help passengers deal with any medical emergencies that may arise during the trip, including high altitude sickness.

Helpful Medical Tips

Although there are trained medical professionals and services available on board the trains, we recommend that you prepare yourself before your Tibet tour to enjoy a safer and more comfortable journey.

1. Have a full physical examination before traveling to make sure your body can handle the high altitude environment. It can be very dangerous for anyone to visit Tibet with a heavy cold, severe anemia, high blood pressure, heart disease or any type of breathing disease.

2. Ask your doctor for medicines that can prevent and/or cure high altitude sickness.

3. Keep physically & mentally healthy and avoid high strenuous exercise at least ten days before your Tibet journey to make sure you are in the best shape possible for your trip.