What Happens When Your Child Needs an Ambulance, Helicopter, or Medical Transport?

When a child needs emergency transport to a children's hospital, families are often facing one of the hardest moments of their lives. Behind every ambulance ride, helicopter flight, or plane transfer is a highly trained team working together to keep children safe, while also supporting parents through the unknown.

In this episode of Inside the Children's Hospital, Katie Taylor sits down with Kami Stone, Assistant Clinical Director at Texas Children's Hospital Austin, and Jacob, a transport EMT with the Texas Children's Kangaroo Crew, to talk about what pediatric transport really looks like behind the scenes.

Together, they share:

• What happens when a pediatric transport team arrives

• The roles of EMTs, nurses, respiratory therapists, and physicians during transport

• How transport teams prepare for weather, traffic, logistics, and emergencies

• Why Texas Children's prioritizes family-centered care during transport

• What parents can expect during ambulance, helicopter, and plane transports

• How simulation training prepares teams for high-stress situations

• The emotional realities of caring for critically ill children and supporting families in crisis

• Why is asking questions during transport always encouraged

• The small moments of human connection that families never forget

Jacob also shares his personal story of being treated at Texas Children's as a child after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes — and how that experience inspired him to dedicate his career to pediatric transport care.

This conversation offers a rare look into the people and systems families depend on during medical emergencies, while reminding parents that they are never alone during the journey.

About Our Guests

Kami Stone, MSN, RN, NE-BC

Kami Stone is the Assistant Clinical Director overseeing the Emergency Center, trauma program, and transport team at Texas Children's Hospital in Austin, Texas. With a background in emergency nursing and healthcare leadership, Kami is passionate about building systems that improve both patient outcomes and family experiences during transport care.

Jacob Willets Martinez, EMT

Jacob is a pediatric transport EMT with the Texas Children's Kangaroo Crew. After receiving care at Texas Children's as a teenager following his Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, he knew he wanted to one day work for the organization that supported his family during such a difficult time.

Resources & Links

• Learn more about Texas Children's Austin: https://www.texaschildrens.org/austin

• Learn more about Inside the Children's Hospital: https://insidethechildrenshospital.com

Connect with Child Life On Call

• Instagram: @insidethechildrenshospital and @childlifeoncall

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