Without stopping for a minute (about the work of the Moscow Ambulance Station during The Great Patriotic War)

The article is devoted to the work of the Moscow Ambulance Station during the Great Patriotic War, which is one of the few that continued its activities during this period and accumulated significant work experience that should be studied and used. In peacetime, doctors and paramedics had to travel to fires, floods, explosions, building collapses, major traffic accidents, mass poisoning and other emergencies. However, the war required much more effort from the staff, because 283 people were drafted into the Red Army, and the rest had to work in difficult conditions with double the workload. The military situation affected all aspects of the Station’s life and activities. Working conditions at night became more difficult: there was a danger of collisions with oncoming cars, collisions with poles and trees, and in the dark it was difficult to find victims and patients, as well as provide them with medical care. Sometimes it was necessary to limit oneself to urgent transportation, postponing diagnosis and even first aid until delivery to medical institutions. There were special conditions when making calls during air attacks, and yet the Station did not stop its normal operation, only reducing its size to cases of extreme necessity. The ambulance service played an important role in ensuring the safety of the city during the most difficult days of Moscow’s defense. The timely assistance provided to victims of enemy air raids and accidents saved the lives of many citizens and allowed them to avoid more casualties.