PARENTS will be able to gain some potentially life-saving skills for free at Merry Hill next week.

St John Ambulance will be dropping in to the Brierley Hill shopping centre’s Mummy Morning on Tuesday (October 21) to teach vital first aid techniques.

Regional community training co-ordinator Emma Elgerton – herself a new mum – will be at Eat Central from 10am until 11.30am to show parents how to do CPR and deal with a choking baby.

Toddlers and their teddies will also get some hands on experience, learning how to apply a bandage.

Emma said: "Becoming a parent is one of the most rewarding experiences anyone can go through, but it is also really daunting.

"The idea behind the demonstration we are running at Merry Hill is to help parents feel more confident to act if their child needs first aid, especially in situations where those skills could be the difference between a life saved and a life lost."

The skills that Emma will be demonstrating are just some of the lifesaving techniques that people can learn on an Essential First Aid course from St John Ambulance.

Courses will be held at the charity's base in Vicar Street, Dudley, between 10am and 1pm on December 9 and Manor Way, Halesowen on December 18 between 7pm and 10pm.

For more information call 0121 2373873.