A MOTHER whose quick thinking saved her daughter’s life is backing a new campaign urging people to learn first aid.

St John Ambulance is aiming to teach as many as possible what to do if a baby starts to choke.

The charity has created an animated advert featuring famous names like Sir John Hurt, David Walliams, Johnny Vegas and David Mitchell to help get the message across.

It comes as a survey by the charity revealed four-fifths of parents do not know the correct technique for saving their baby from choking.

Trudi Scrase, 36, from Horsham, has been a St John Ambulance volunteer since she was 11. In February 2012 she put her training to dramatic use when her then nine-week-old daughter Lucy appeared to stop breathing. Lucy had been suffering from a cold.

Ms Scrase said: “She was quite grey, very blue around the mouth and had become quite floppy.

“A small cough would normally have cleared any phlegm but on this occasion it wasn’t enough.

“I went into overdrive, dialling 999 and began slapping her on the back to clear her airway. It was really scary. I remember sinking into the sofa afterwards thinking she’s going to be OK.”

Lucy is now three years old and Ms Scrase is pregnant with her second child.

She said: “It made me think afterwards if I hadn’t been first aid trained she may not be here.

“I think it’s really important to know what to do, particularly as a parent. Being pregnant now with a new baby coming, I’m confident with the training I’ve had that if that was to happen again the baby would be OK.”

Ms Scrase’s story has been filmed to support the campaign and will be shared on YouTube by the charity. St John Ambulance regional training and community projects manager, Chris Cook, said: “Knowing what to do in an emergency can be the difference between life and death, especially with something like choking.

“We all know how time-pressed parents are, so this film makes it as easy as possible to learn first aid – in less than 40 seconds we can all know a skill that could save a life.”

For more information, visit www.sja.org.uk/TheChokeables.