PICKING up the phone to make a 999 call is not part of everyday life for most children.

But school pupils from across Oxfordshire are being taught how to react in an emergency as part of a special safety scheme.

Year 6 pupils have been visiting Oxford’s Rewley Road fire station throughout the academic year with the Junior Citizens Trust Oxfordshire.

Children from Wood Farm School were among those to take part and had the opportunity to practice making a 999 call when they visted on Wednesday.

They were also given guidance about internet chat-room safety, learnt how to put someone in the recovery position, and were faced with a fire situation in a kitchen.

Almost 5,000 10 and 11-year-olds have been part of the scheme this year.

Codi-Jayne Hardisty, 11, said: “It was good because we learnt how to look after ourselves in lots of different ways.

“There are things that as we grow up we might experience.”

The scheme has been running for 23 years.