What should be the primary concern when assessing bleeding?

The primary concern when assessing bleeding is the amount of blood lost. This is crucial because the volume of blood loss directly impacts the person's physiological stability and can quickly lead to shock or life-threatening conditions. Monitoring the amount of blood lost allows responders to gauge the severity of the situation and prioritize care accordingly, ensuring that appropriate interventions can be administered quickly.

While the type of wound can inform the approach to treatment, it is the quantity of blood loss that ultimately determines the urgency of the medical response. Assessing whether the person is breathing is also important, but it relates more to airway management than to the immediate assessment of bleeding. Emotional responses, like crying, do not provide critical information about the physical state of bleeding and are not a priority in this assessment process.