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You should perform CPR when an adult, child, or infant is unconscious, not breathing normally (or not breathing at all), and unresponsive. This typically occurs in situations like cardiac arrest, drowning, or severe allergic reactions. Always ensure the scene is safe before approaching the person.

The basic steps for adult CPR are:

Check for responsiveness: Tap the person's shoulder and shout, "Are you okay?"

Call 911 (or your local emergency number): If they are unresponsive, immediately call for emergency help.

Open the airway: Tilt their head back slightly and lift their chin to open the airway.

Check for breathing: Look, listen, and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.

Begin chest compressions: If they are not breathing normally, start chest compressions. Place the heel of one hand in the center of their chest, place your other hand on top, and push hard and fast (at least 2 inches deep, 100-120 compressions per minute).

Give rescue breaths (if trained and willing): After 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths. Pinch the nose, make a seal over their mouth, and breathe in for about 1 second, watching for chest rise. Continue cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until help arrives or the person starts to move.

While there's a slight risk of minor injuries like fractured ribs, the overwhelming consensus among medical professionals is that it's far better to attempt CPR on someone who might need it than to do nothing at all. The potential benefit of saving a life far outweighs the risk of minor injury. If someone is truly in cardiac arrest, CPR is their only chance of survival. If they don't need it, they will likely react and show signs of consciousness, in which case you can stop.