Paediatric medical evacuation: how do you organise the medical transfer of a child or newborn to Morocco?

Why is a paediatric transfer different?

In children, deterioration can be rapid and the signs less obvious than in adults. Medicines are dosed by weight, ventilation and infusion equipment comes in suitable sizes, and normal values for vital signs change with age. A team used to children knows how to recognise deterioration and respond with the right equipment.

Infants and newborns also have specific needs: they cool down quickly, their blood sugar can drop if they are not fed, and their breathing may be more fragile at altitude, in a cabin where the available oxygen is slightly lower than on the ground.

The particular case of the newborn

Transferring a newborn, whether premature or unwell, requires its own organisation:

• a transport incubator that maintains temperature and allows monitoring;
• a team trained in neonatology, able to manage ventilation and infusions in a very small baby;
• precise information about the birth: gestational age, weight, how the delivery went, any resuscitation, tests performed;
• a receiving neonatology or neonatal intensive care department that has confirmed admission.

The mother may need care after the birth and may not be fit to travel immediately. When breastfeeding is desired, the team can advise on expressing and storing milk during the separation.

Choosing the means of transport

Depending on their condition, a stable child may travel on a commercial flight with an appropriate medical escort. A child who needs continuous monitoring, high-flow oxygen or ventilation will rather need medical transport with a paediatric or neonatal team. The choice is made by the doctors, according to the risk during the journey; a heavier set-up is not better if it is not needed.

Documents to prepare

Administrative formalities are often the main source of delay for a child:

• a passport in the child’s name, valid for the whole stay: each child must have their own;
• the birth certificate, useful especially for a newborn;
• authorisation from the other parent or the parents when the child travels with only one parent or with another adult, according to the rules of the country of departure;
• entry requirements for Morocco for the child and the companion, to be checked on the official websites;
• the health record book with vaccinations and growth charts;
• recent medical reports, the list of treatments with doses, allergies.

The role of parents

Having a parent present reassures the child and helps the team: the parent knows the child’s habits, reactions and history. In an air ambulance, seats are limited and whether a parent can travel on board depends on the aircraft and the situation; the other parent can sometimes travel on a scheduled flight. Parents must receive clear information and give their consent to care, according to the applicable rules.

On arrival

The child is admitted directly to the department that accepted the transfer. The team reassesses the child and explains the next steps of care to the parents. Parents also need practical arrangements: accommodation, meals and the possibility of staying with the child according to the department’s rules.

Frequently asked questions