CPR: Clean, Pretty, Reliable/Useful Notes
And now for some Real Life Useful Notes about CPR.
First off, if someone near you is not breathing at this moment, GET OFF ALL THE TROPES AND DIAL 9-1-1, 1-1-2 OR WHATEVER THE EMERGENCY NUMBER IS IN YOUR JURISDICTION!!! Time is of the essence. The operator can instruct you on the phone.
CPR, AED and other First Aid training is highly desirable, especially in certain fields of employment. If you are interested, certification courses are widespread. A good place to look is your local Red Cross.
Proper execution of CPR is vital, which is why formal training is important. If done wrong, not only could it be ineffective, but it could damage the rib cage in a fatal manner. Proper execution could still break ribs; this is alright, and some physicians suggest it may even be necessary. Improper execution could snap off the xyphoid process at the bottom of the sternum and damage the heart itself, rendering CPR pointless.
All The Tropes is not an encyclopedia. If you want more detailed information, see the article on the other Wiki.