Which term describes a large-scale emergency that results in numerous human casualties?

The term that accurately describes a large-scale emergency resulting in numerous human casualties is "medical surge." This term refers to the increased need for medical services that occurs during situations such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or pandemics, where the existing health care system may be overwhelmed by the volume of patients requiring immediate attention. Medical surge situations demand rapid responses and an expansion of resources, including personnel, facilities, and equipment, to effectively manage the influx of victims and ensure they receive adequate care.

In contrast, terms like medical vulnerability describe the susceptibility of populations to health impacts, medical emergencies refer more broadly to urgent health situations that may not reach the scale of a large-scale disaster, and medical capacity refers to the ability of healthcare systems to manage patient care under normal circumstances. These distinctions underscore the unique nature of a medical surge as a response mechanism to high-stakes, high-volume scenarios.