PRIMARY School children have long enjoyed visits and training exercises put on by members of the Cumbrian emergency services.

A part of every student’s life is a visit from the fire services and police who deliver important lessons on road and fire safety.

Their guidance to staying safe is one of the many ways Cumbrian schools have been able to keep their children safe, as well as entertained and informed.

The Mail: RIDING: A group of students from Croftlands School, Ulverston, qualify as expert cyclists by passing their proficiency exams in 1997RIDING: A group of students from Croftlands School, Ulverston, qualify as expert cyclists by passing their proficiency exams in 1997

During the summer, primary school children would get the chance to take part in realistic scenarios to learn how to act in such situations if they ever occurred.

Hundreds of Year Six pupils took part in the Junior Citizen Scheme at Barrow Fire Station back in 1990s and are still doing so today.

A group of students from Croftlands School, Ulverston, qualified as expert cyclists by passing their proficiency exams in 1997.

The Mail: TEST: In a Junior Citizen Scheme in 1995 special police constable Steve Richmond poses as a gas man and tries to gain entryTEST: In a Junior Citizen Scheme in 1995 special police constable Steve Richmond poses as a gas man and tries to gain entry

The cycling challenges included handling, road safety and spatial awareness.

As well as cycling skills, the lessons also taught home safety. Fire prevention and responses were very important.

The Junior Citizen Scheme that took place in the 1990s had Pupils prepare to block the smoke coming into their enclosed room during various safety awareness schemes.

The Mail: LEARNING: Yarlside pupils Lee Kendal, 11, Andrew Waite, 10, and Matthew Connell, 11, stop smoke in 1995LEARNING: Yarlside pupils Lee Kendal, 11, Andrew Waite, 10, and Matthew Connell, 11, stop smoke in 1995

Pupils from North Walney were treated to a very special scenario when a fake Gas Man appeared at the door of their home, who would try and talk them into letting him in.

The pupils rightfully knew not to allow anyone they did not know into their home. This is an important lesson that schools try hard to enforce to their pupils. The fake Gas Man would try various ways to enter the home, but the pupils had been coached what to expect.

The Mail: SHOW: The Junior Citizen Scheme in 1995SHOW: The Junior Citizen Scheme in 1995

In 1995 Special Police Constable Steve Richmond was the instructor who posed as a gas man.

The Mail: REACT: Pupils reacting to a car crash REACT: Pupils reacting to a car crash

Pupils from the school also had a simulated traffic accident to navigate which taught them how to remain calm under pressure when serious incidents occurred. They were later tested on what they had learnt.