MORE than 800 pupils from St Helens primary schools will be put through their paces in ten emergency situations to raise their awareness of what to do when in a life-threatening situation.

Crucial Crew, an inter-active experience run by St Helens Council, is scheduled for October 8 to 12. 'Crews' of ten children are put through a series of ten imaginative sets and as the drama unfolds, the youngsters face challenges which they must resolve. This helps them to learn 'crucial' lessons about their own personal safety and good citizenship.

Each challenge is provided and staffed by personnel from Merseyside Drugs Council, United Utilities, British Transport Police, Merseyside Fire Brigade, Road Safety, Merseyside Police, Manweb, Whiston Hospital Pharmacy Unit, St Helens Rangers and the Council's Environmental Health.

Councillor Terry Hanley, the Council's Executive Member for Environmental Protection said: "This will be our seventh Crucial Crew and over the past six years more than 4,000 children have benefited from the positive safety good citizenship skills they have learned. This is a significant contribution towards saving lives and preventing injury. This year, the event is sponsored by the Merseyside Health Action Zone and the Fire Liaison Panel and I would like to thank them. Without their financial support Crucial Crew could not take place".

Steve Massey, the Council's assistant director for Trading Standards and Environmental Health said: "Each year the Council face the difficult task of securing financial sponsorship as well as premises in order to stage Crucial Crew. I appeal to anyone who can sponsor next year's event, or provide a venue for it to be staged".

If you are able to provide support or need any further details, please contact Andy McCully, the Council's Health Promotion Officer on 01744 456468.