3.1. INTRODUCTION
Major factors affecting the implementation of the modern system of medical and evacuation support for the population in disaster areas are the following: massive, simultaneous occurrence of losses among the population, diverse nature and severity of lesions, the occurrence of new diseases (radiation sickness, etc.), destruction of buildings and constructions in towns and villages, complicating the deployment and operation of the arriving medical units and establishments, as well as losses among medical staff, disruption of regular health care facilities, possible contamination of vast territories, water sources and food by radioactive, toxic substances and other chemicals, pathogens of various infectious diseases (including especially dangerous infections), bacterial means, biological (bacteriological) warfare, etc., elevated epidemic tension in the areas (foci) of disaster.