FOR two weeks every June students in their last year of primary school have a chance to learn how to cope with day-to-day dangers and real-life emergencies, and how to keep themselves, their friends and their family safe.

The Junior Life Skills programme is organised by Torridge District Council's Sustainability and Health Initiatives Officer Amanda Wycherley with help from North Devon Council.

For the last few years, Amanda has used the Army Camp at Fremington as the location, before that it was in Bideford Fire Station. Nine months' planning and organisation culminates in two frenetic weeks in June. Last year over 1,500 final year primary school children attended the event — three groups a day, every day, for two weeks.

A range of short scenarios provided by multi-agencies including Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon Fire and Rescue Service, Devon Primary Care Trust, the Maritime Coastguard Agency, Safer North Devon, and North Devon and Torridge's Environ­mental Health teams gives children first hand experience in how to deal with different situations.

They learn about the effects of alcohol, what not to do with a chip pan fire, first aid and resuscitation techniques and the benefits of healthy eating and hygiene. This year's event will take place on weekdays from June 1 to 12.