What is the process of sorting victims based on the severity of their conditions called?

The process of sorting victims based on the severity of their conditions is known as triage. Triage is a critical procedure in emergency situations, particularly in mass casualty incidents, where multiple victims have varying degrees of injury. The goal of triage is to prioritize treatment to those who need it most urgently, ensuring that limited medical resources are utilized effectively and that the greatest number of lives can be saved.

Triage involves assessing the condition of each victim and categorizing them accordingly, typically into colors or levels that indicate their need for medical intervention. This process helps first responders focus on individuals who are in critical condition and require immediate care, while also managing the treatment of those who may be less severely injured or stable enough to wait.

The other choices represent different aspects of emergency response. Assessment refers to the act of evaluating a situation or the condition of victims but does not specifically pertain to the systematic prioritization involved in triage. Evaluation can also refer to assessing conditions but is more general and lacks the critical prioritization focus. Rescue hints at the physical act of extracting victims from danger but does not encapsulate the decision-making process around treatment and care that triage involves.