The experience of medical support for the evacuation of the civilian population, children and adolescents across the Road of Life in 1941–1942

The organization of medical support during the evacuation of the population, including children and adolescents during the Great Patriotic War, especially in 1941–1942, is unique. Attention is drawn to the scale — the timing of the organization of evacuation, the number of evacuated people, methods — by water, aviation, land transport. Special attention in conditions of shortage deserves catering — all evacuees received a hot lunch and rations for the road in the form 1 kg of bread. Gradually, the prevention of infectious diseases was established, vaccination against dysentery was actively used, teams of epidemiologists and disinfection and washing teams were formed, medical support was provided. In total, from the beginning of the blockade to the end of 1942, about 1 million 100 thousand people were evacuated, of which 871 thousand Leningraders. And during the war, about 1 million 738 thousand people were taken out of Leningrad in an organized manner, of which 1 million 360 thousand Leningraders. Priority in mass evacuation was given to children and adolescents — the future of the country. All the sick and wounded, whose treatment required more than 45 days, were subject to evacuation. Thanks to the precise organization of care for evacuees on the way and during the period of overload from one mode of transport to another, difficulties were transferred to the wounded and sick relatively easily. Thanks to the planned work during the evacuation, mass outbreaks of infectious diseases were prevented by medical workers, mortality was reduced as much as possible and the possibility of restoring normal nutrition and life in the evacuation areas was ensured.