Triage

Triage (French, “sorting”), allocation of limited medical or food resources by selecting those in need who would most benefit in the long run. During World War I (1914–18) the word was introduced to describe the classification of wounded soldiers. Medical help was first administered to those who would survive only with immediate treatment; help was delayed or, if necessary, withheld from those who were expected to die or to recover with or without treatment. By extension, a triage system is suggested to determine what countries in need of food are to receive supplies. A system of triage also is used in hospital emergency rooms to determine the order in which patients are attended.