CHILDREN will be put in realistic danger scenarios to test their awareness as part of the Junior Good Citizen Scheme 2005.

Year 6 children, aged 10 and 11, from 25 schools in Swindon will be taught how to cope in emergency situations by taking part in the exercises at the Science Museum in Wroughton.

The fire brigade, police, and ambulance service, as well as Swindon Council's environmental health, trading standards and road safety officers will create and act out realistic scenarios at the museum.

Firefighter Sue Foord of Swindon Fire Station in Drove Road is in charge of the scheme.

She said: "The scheme really does have an impact on the children and they very much enjoy taking part.

"What we do is create a scenario of a building on fire by using smoke oil. We tell the children that there are people trapped inside the building.

"Lots of them will actually run straight in which is not what they are supposed to do.

"When they get in there the room is filled with smoke and they find out how little they can see in there. We teach them that what they are supposed to do is not to go into a burning building but to call 999."

Other scenarios include a stranger-danger situation recreated by the police and a stall run by trading standards, which includes items that the children are not supposed to buy.

The police also show children how long it takes for a car to stop after braking.

And Miss Foord said there has been proof from years gone past that the scheme really can help to save lives.

"We have had a couple of letters written saying that children have applied what they learned on the scheme in real-life situations.

"A couple of people have written in to say children were able to remain calm and had known what to say when making a 999 call because of what they had learnt on the scheme.

"This shows that it really does make an impact on children's lives."

The scheme takes place this year between June 6 and 22. Any individual or company who would like to support it by donating a money or gift should get in contact with Sue on 01793 401200/229.

Diana Milne