WATCH: The full and hard-hitting St John Ambulance advert

Did you see the Helpless ad by St John Ambulance during Downton Abbey on Sunday?

Did you see the moving and hard-hitting St John Ambulance advert in the commercial break during Downton Abbey?

We did too and it really stuck with us. The whole premise behind the ad is the shocking statistic that 140,000 people die each year in situations where first aid could have saved their lives. This is as many as die from cancer.

The new campaign, called Helpless, follows the journey of a man who is diagnosed with cancer, undergoes treatment, and survives only to die as a result of choking at a family gathering because no one knows the basic first aid that could have saved his life.

On the back of this campaign St John Ambulance hopes to highlight the importance of learning basic first aid skills, especially for young people.

Sue Killen, St John Ambulance Chief Executive, said: ‘Cancer is a serious disease, which kills tens of thousands of people each year. When a loved one has cancer, although we do all we can to support them, over three-quarters of people are consumed by a feeling of helplessness.

‘In situations where first aid could help save a life we don’t have to feel helpless, because learning life saving skills is so simple. That’s why it’s so concerning that fewer than 1 in 5 of us knows even basic first aid. This has got to change if we are to stop up to 140,000 lives from being needlessly lost each year.’

For more information visit the St John Ambulance website.

What did you think of the St John Ambulance advert? Did you find it moving? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.

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