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Tips & Articles
Traveling by Car, RV, Rail or Bus When you're traveling on the ground, you'll have fewer worries and more time to enjoy the sights. But as with all other types of travel, it's best to start making arrangements several weeks before your trip and to get advice from your doctor or RCP. Carry your important medical documents and make oxygen refill arrangements by phone in advance. Pack your Breathin' Easy Travel Guide in case you have to find alternate suppliers or your destinations change. Altitude can be as much of a factor in land travel as it is in an airplane. Check with your auto club or local library for maps that provide the altitudes you'll encounter along your route. Your doctor may want to test your tolerance for these heights and alter your oxygen prescription. AMTRAK Fee: None. Notice: 12 hours in advance. Equipment Specifications: The equipment must not weigh more than 75 pounds per unit and must be UL or FM listed. Two tanks can be used, provided they can be separated and handled separately. Concentrators may be boarded, but they must have a 12-hour backup supply. This backup oxygen must not require the use of on-board electrical power and must conform to all other restrictions. Passengers must have enough oxygen for the advised total travel time, plus a safety margin of 20%. All wheeled oxygen tanks must have the wheels removed while on board the train. Other Information: Amtrak only accepts passengers with oxygen who require it for medical reasons. You do not need to carry your prescription, although it is prudent to do so. Oxygen passengers are encouraged to occupy sleeping accommodations, but this is not mandatory. They must, however, travel in nonsmoking areas of the train and may not occupy any areas where smoking is allowed (in designated areas only). Amtrak, America's nationwide passenger railroad system, welcomes passengers who must use oxygen for medical reasons. Plan to bring your own portable oxygen system, and use your Breathin' Easy Travel Guide to arrange refills at stopovers and at your destination. In general, Amtrak requires you to have enough oxygen aboard for the advised total travel time plus a safety margin of 20%. You can use two tanks, provided they can be separated and handled individually. Wheeled tanks must have the wheels removed while on the train. You may bring aboard a concentrator as long as you have a 12-hour back-up supply of oxygen that does not require the use of on-board electrical power. You're limited, however, to two pieces of equipment. Each must weigh 75 pounds or less and be UL or FM listed. For overnight trips, Amtrak will encourage you to reserve sleeping accommodations, but it's not mandatory. You must, however, travel in nonsmoking areas of the train and avoid all areas where smoking is allowed. Amtrak requires only 12 hours advance notice and does not ask for medical information. Local railroad lines may have different requirements. Call ahead for information. PRIVATE VEHICLES Be sure to store your oxygen safely. Keep vehicle windows slightly open to allow adequate ventilation, and never store full tanks of gaseous oxygen in the trunk or where they may reach 120 F. Your supplier can provide special base clamps and fill adapters that make it easier to transport and refill liquid oxygen containers. In motor-homes, stay well away from heat and flames. Also be aware of pollution and its effect on your breathing. Use your vehicle's air conditioner, and plan to travel early in the morning or late in the evening on heavily used roads. GREYHOUND Fee: None. Notice: Call Customer Relations 48 hours in advance, if possible, for information. Equipment Specifications: Passengers who need oxygen may carry a portable system on board. The size of the tank is limited to what the passenger can carry onto the bus. Empty oxygen containers can be checked as baggage. Other Information: Greyhound's policy for passengers traveling with oxygen can be found in traffic bulletin TFB2-86. Greyhound does not permit smoking on its buses; there are designated smoking areas in the depots. Passengers who need oxygen may carry a portable system on board Greyhound buses. The size of the tank is limited to what you can carry onto the bus. Empty oxygen containers may be checked as baggage. When you're making reservations, ask to speak with someone in the Greyhound customer relations department. They will send you a copy of "Traffic Bulletin TFB2-86,” which details Greyhound's policy for passengers traveling with oxygen. Greyhound does not permit smoking on their buses, and there are designated smoking areas in depots, which you can easily avoid. |
