Have you seen the St John Ambulance choking advert?  This video uses cartoon characters – a pen lid, marble, princess and jelly baby (choking objects) – to demonstrate the correct method to save a baby. It’s simple and informative. We all know how much babies love to stick anything and everything in their mouths.  So knowing how to save a baby’s life from choking is certainly fundamental.

Here’s another video on how to treat a choking baby (also by St John Ambulance). A bit more information and instruction – also very informative.

So which is more effective? How effective is the use of cartoons to portray a message? Cartoon messages have been used widely to spread safety messages.

How about the Dumb Ways to Die cartoon? A message from Metro trains regarding track safety.  Its song is catchy, and if you play for a crowd in your office surrounding your desk, there will certainly be loads of laughter.   

But is this video actually effective in delivering the intended message? Or does it simply make safety a joke?