Bondage can be performed with safety, provided some precautions are taken and the Dom knows what to do. Here are some simple safety guidelines to follow.
First this: the dimensions (especially the thickness) of the ropes you are using and the body of your sub have to be in proportion. Not only does it look better (on a more voluptuous sub use thicker rope), there is also a safety aspect.
Thin rope on a bigger body is more likely to become more painful AND to block arteries and damage nerve endings.
Things To Avoid For Safety:
In general, be careful with people suffering from breathing problems or showing signs of hyperventilation or claustrophobia (one may indicate the other).
In these cases avoid any technique – such as body harnesses – that may obstruct or limit breathing or give the impression that breathing is obstructed.
This includes certain positions, such as lying on the belly with the hands stretched above the head or tied behind the back.
Do not obstruct the throat and be aware that gags give the sub the impression breathing is obstructed, even though this is rarely the case.
Never use thin rope (approximately a quarter of an inch or 5 – 6 MM is the absolute minimum), wire, electrical cord, or steel enhanced wire, and try to avoid the use of panties, silk scars and neckties.
Things To Do For Safety:
Learn about knots and ropes. Books for boy scouts and sailors are usually excellent sources of information. They will teach you knots that can be used safely and will also give a lot of information about maintaining your ropes.
Use safe knots that will be easy to untie. The best and safest knot is the eight-shaped reef knot. It will always come loose, even when wet or under tension. Practice making safe knots regularly.
Keep a sailor’s knife within reach at all times so you can cut ropes immediately in the event of an emergency.
If you are inexperienced, take precautions. Do not use ropes directly on the skin and cover wrists and ankles with sweatlets (used by tennis players to absorb perspiration) prior to tying them. This will help prevent the obstruction of blood vessels, damage to nerve endings, as well as rope burn.
Know about the body’s distress signals. Limbs turning pale, red, cold, numb or simply feeling uncomfortable are usually indications there is an obstruction. This is not only caused by tight or improperly placed ropes, but may also be caused simply by folding and arm or a leg, even for a short period of time.
Avoid joints! When tying arms for example, make sure the ropes are above the wrists.
Do use different short pieces of rope instead of one or two long ropes. If you cut the majority of your bondage ropes to a length of 10 feet (3 meter) and use different pieces you will be able to make rapid adjustments without having to untie the whole thing.
Things To Be Aware Of:
It is unlikely your sub will remain perfectly still during the entire session. She will fight the ropes, move her body, pull or whatever and this may tighten ropes unexpectedly. Regular inspection of the ropes and knots is a must. A dislocated knot may damage nerve endings, especially around the wrists and ankles.
Do expect sudden, fierce and sometimes spasmodic movements. Try to think ahead and determine what these may do to your bondage.
Do have “practice sessions”. They will teach both dom and sub what a specific type of bondage will do and how ropes and knots can change in different situations.
Never introduce things you are not entirely certain about, such as suspension in any form or very tight bondage. Remember first that things you see in drawings, pictures and videos may be either impossible, or only feasible if you have a certain body shape. It is also possible you may be seeing trick photography.
Reading Body Signals:
Be aware that physical signals may indicate other health-related problems in individual cases. When in doubt, always consult your doctor or healthcare professional! Shallow breathing, perspiration, shivering, dizziness and nausea are usually the first indication of fainting. This may be the result of an overly enthusiastic tie, but more often it is the result of an emotional overload. Quite often positions where the head is below the heart, the arms are above the head or the body is folded may be the problem.
Fainting may be the result of any of the above or lack of food and beverages. Sometimes hyperventilation is the problem. Fainting is not a drama, but no fun either.
Tingling body parts (usually extremities such as fingers, toes, hands or feet) indicate low, but not dramatic blood flow or an obstructed nerve. It can me irritating but is no cause for immediate alarm.
Limbs turning blue indicate oxygen-low blood being obstructed. Limbs turning white indicate obstruction of blood-rich blood. Both are not dramatic, but the problem should be corrected. Lips turning white may indicate SERIOUS problems, such as heart failure!
What Ropes To Use For Safety:
There is endless discussion about ropes. First of all, this is a matter of taste and personal preference. The question of whether it is better to use synthetic or cotton will never be answered. Synthetic rope, however, is more durable, stronger and will carry heavier loads, and – as opposed to cotton – attracts fewer germs and bacteria. Natural rope as a result is less durable. Cotton has a tendency to stretch and has a very low breaking point, which makes it unsuitable for suspensions.
Ropes for bondage should be soft and woven. Never use twisted rope because it creates uneven pressure. For hygienic reasons, wash your ropes regularly, and note this will also soften the ropes considerably.
Ropes that must carry weight (as when used for suspension purposes) should, as a safety margin, be able to handle four times the actual payload. This in order to cope with peak-tension during sudden moves. Always check the maximum payload for the rope you are buying and go to either boating shops, good hardware stores or an outdoor, hiking or adventure shop to buy rope. Note: the payload is stamped on the coil or – if individually packed – on the package.
Use your bondage ropes for bondage only and keep ropes used in the genital areas separate from other ropes. These should also be washed after each use to avoid infection. A handy trick is to mark your ropes with small bands of colored tape for easy identification.
Tight ropes around the waist: are something many people have problems with and which may cause damage to the kidneys and liver. If you want to do it safely, do not use a single winding, but use as many windings as you can. The windings themselves will create the required tightness and will spread the pressure more evenly.
Tying nipples: if you use thin soft rope and the nipple is large enough, it can be tied. However, make sure the nipple is not being pulled too hard and do not leave it tied for longer than 15 to 20 minutes.
prevention
There are a couple of things you can to to prevent things from becoming a problem in the case of an unexpected mishap, such as fainting.
Use panic hooks A panic hook is available from every hardware store or riding store. They are used to be able to release horses immediately when they panic to avoid bigger problems. The hook has either a sliding or twisting mechanism that will release the hook even when under heavy tension.
Panic hooks are extremely handy for use between suspension gear, overhead chains and cuffs and the ceiling hooks. Remember that when your sub faints she temporarily becomes “dead weight” and difficult to handle. The use of panic hooks will enable you to fully support her and at the same time release her instantly with one hand and without having to use sterength.
Slide knots A slide knot is used when for example you tie a limb to a bedpost. The knot is simple: just wind the end of your rope a couple of times around the post and make a loop under your final winding. The knot will not come lose unless you pull the free end of the rope. One pull and the knot releases instantly.
