Within primary schools, the core subjects of literacy and numeracy are highly regarded, and rightly so, as children need to learn to read, write and be numerically literate. This means that all children learn their ABCs at an early age, But, what about the "other ABC"--"Airway, Breathing and Circulation?" Accidents and medical events happen every day and Emergency Life Support (ELS) can be carried out by anyone, anywhere. Very simple actions, performed by children as young as 5 years old, can mean the difference between life and death and it is for this reason that the British Heart Foundation (BHF) set up "Heartstart." Heartstart is an initiative that aims to teach people of all ages what to do in a life-threatening emergency. Heartstart teaches within schools and communities the skills that will enable them to deal with emergency situations, wherever they may happen. ELS skills can be taught to children as young as 5 years old in stages that are appropriate for their age group. Children should be given the opportunity to learn ELS while in primary school, so that these initial skills can be built on as they progress through secondary school and higher education. By involving schools with the Heartstart initiative, life-saving skills can learned.