Travel companions on-board: a paediatrician’s perspective

In today’s paediatric intensive care units (PICUs), it is routine for parents or caregivers to remain at the bedside, even during invasive procedures or emergencies such as CPR. This shift toward family-centred care is supported by a growing body of evidence showing that parental presence reduces psychological trauma, improves understanding of the medical situation, and strengthens trust in the care team. Studies consistently demonstrate that such involvement is beneficial for children and parents.

The principle that the presence of a trusted individual enhances patient wellbeing translates meaningfully into the domain of long-distance international aeromedical transport, especially in high-stress scenarios. Whether transporting a critically ill child or an 80-year-old patient injured while travelling abroad, the inclusion of a close family member – such as a spouse of 50 years – can play a therapeutic and stabilising role.

A travel companion

Air ambulances, by design, are clinical, confined, and unfamiliar – an environment that can amplify fear and anxiety in already vulnerable patients. A familiar face on board can offer comfort, reassurance, and continuity, just as it does in the PICU. Relatives can assist in communication,provide valuable medical history, and help in decision-making processes during the flight. Furthermore, leaving a vulnerable elderly spouse behind, who may be unfamiliar with travelling alone and confronted with language barriers may create stress, discomfort and significantly increase workload for the assistance centre.

The idea of a travel companion finds an intriguing parallel in US military medevac protocols, particularly for personnel with psychiatric or combat stress injuries. In such patients, the military frequently does assign a ‘battle buddy’ to accompany the service member during aeromedical evacuation. Peer-support has been proven to reduce agitation, increase compliance,and lower the likelihood of in-flight decompensation. The battle buddy model affirms that a trusted human connection is often as critcal as medical intervention during patient transport – especially when the injury is not purely physical.