Awareness of first aid measures among the public in response to road traffic accidents in Makkah population

<p><strong>Background</strong>: Although road traffic accident (RTA) rates have decreased in Saudi Arabia, regional variations remain. First aid, combined with early emergency calls, may reduce mortality and morbidity. However, public awareness and confidence levels regarding the provision of first aid after RTAs are still low. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and barriers among the public in the Makkah region.</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong>: This cross-sectional study assessed public awareness and knowledge toward first aid management of RTAs in Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from March 16 to September 26, 2025, and an anonymous online survey was distributed electronically to the public.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>: A total of 390 participants were enrolled. Almost half (49.2%) of the participants reported having received previous first aid training. Most respondents were aged 18&ndash;44 years (85.9%), and trained individuals were more likely to be younger than 44 years (91.1% vs. 80.8%; p=0.009). Females comprised 71.5% of participants. Training was significantly more prevalent among individuals with a high school education or lower (p=0.019). Awareness of emergency numbers was reported in 80.2% of participants, which was significantly higher among those who were trained (88% versus 72.7%; p&lt;0.001).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: The level of first aid preparedness in the Makkah region is not uniform. Formal first aid training was associated with higher knowledge levels, although barriers to providing first aid remained common. Community-based first aid programs for bystanders should be more widely implemented and could potentially enhance bystanders&rsquo; levels of response and outcomes in RTAs.</p>