What term describes the sorting of casualties based on the severity of their injuries?

The term that describes the sorting of casualties based on the severity of their injuries is triage. Triage is a critical process in emergency management, especially in large-scale incidents like airport emergencies, where the number of casualties may overwhelm medical resources. In a triage situation, responders quickly assess patients to determine who needs immediate care, who can wait for treatment, and who is unfortunately beyond help. This systematic approach ensures that medical personnel can prioritize their efforts effectively, addressing the most life-threatening conditions first to maximize survival rates.

Other terms like rehabilitation relate to recovery and care after initial treatment, casualty collection pertains to gathering individuals for medical assistance, and medical accountability involves tracking patients and ensuring their care is documented. These concepts are important but do not capture the specific function of assessing and prioritizing injured individuals during an emergency response, which is the essence of triage.