Road accidents continue to increase steadily due to various overlapping reasons. The absence of emergency services and slow local response to accidents are among the primary factors exacerbating their harmful effects on public health in Assiut.
Objectives: The study aims to assess the levels of local response to road accidents by ambulance services and hospitals operating in the governorate. This is intended to enhance the preparedness of hospitals and emergency services to address these accidents and contribute to mitigating their severity.
Methodology: Hot spot analyses were used for traffic accidents on highways to explore the temporal and spatial patterns of these points. Additionally, Network Analyst was utilized within a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment to assess the levels of local response by ambulance services and the accessibility to evacuation hospitals in the governorate.
Results: The study provided a detailed analysis of black spots for highway accidents in Assiut, focusing on the temporal and spatial trends of these accidents, as well as the accessibility and response capability of ambulance services. Additionally, a geographic analysis was presented for hospitals designated for evacuating the injured in road accidents.
Conclusion: This study serves as a model for monitoring road accidents in Assiut, offering maps of accident locations and response times. The study recommends the necessity of considering these findings and coordinating between ambulance services, hospitals, and traffic authorities to enhance response levels and health preparedness. This is aimed at saving the injured and reducing fatality rates resulting from highway accidents.