What is the primary goal when stopping bleeding in first aid?

The primary goal when stopping bleeding in first aid is to save the life of the casualty. Severe bleeding can lead to significant blood loss in a short time, which can endanger a person's life. In emergency situations, maintaining blood volume and ensuring adequate circulation is critical for survival. If bleeding is not controlled swiftly, it can result in shock, organ failure, and ultimately death. Therefore, the immediate action in first aid is to apply techniques that will effectively stop or slow the blood loss to stabilize the patient's condition and ensure their safety until professional medical help can be obtained.

While factors like relieving pain, preventing infection, and maintaining patient comfort are important aspects of patient care, they are secondary to the urgency of controlling life-threatening bleeding. The focus in immediate first aid scenarios rightly centers on actions that can preserve life.