Derived from the French word for ‘sorting’, triage is a universal term applied to methods of allocating treatment prioritisations for casualties from disasters or in warfare. The procedure helps a medical team to treat casualties who, although badly injured, can be saved; to defer those whose treatment is less urgent; and to provide only care and comfort for those with fatal injuries.

Triage is now operated in accident and emergency departments by a ‘triage nurse’ who allocates a degree of priority so that patients are seen in order of severity rather than according to their time of arrival.