Final answer:
Bleeding that exceeds approximately 1000 mL is considered excessive in adults, with 500 mL being a critical amount for initiating medical intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bleeding that exceeds approximately 1000 mL (1 liter) is generally considered excessive in adults. However, if there is a risk of blood loss of at least 500 mL or 7 mL/kg of body weight in children, medical professionals ensure that appropriate access and fluids are prepared. To put blood volume into perspective, the average volume of blood in an adult male is about 4.7 L, which equates to 4700 mL. Therefore, losing over a fifth of that amount quickly is concerning and could be life-threatening.