[Triage: prioritization of injured after a major accident or mass casualty incident].

The present work deals primarily with the triage of injured victims after a mass casualty incident by emergency physicians. Triage is central for successful execution at the scene of a major accident. It ensures that the chaos is left at the scene of the accident and does not reach the hospitals. The enormous psychological burden for triage physicians is reflected and the delegation of activities to lay persons is critically examined. The work reflects the long-term experience of the authors.