All Wrapped Up In Myself

Mummification Part 2

Safety and Wrapping Choices

By Norische

Mummification is an adventure like no other; it can allow one to soar to new heights within their soul or to fall to the deepest depths of their subconscious mind. The time expended for a full mummification is extensive, and with out the senses to rely on, ones mind tends to wander, fantasize or play horrible tricks. As dramatic as mummification may be psychologically there are only five major safety issues when it comes to mummification.

Over heating
Choking or suffocation (this would include any respiratory problems)
Panic or anxiety
Falling
Dehydration

If you guard against these complications you can create an amazing experience. Being aware of these medical and emotional issues is half the battle. Make sure that you keep a close eye on your slave/sub at all times, NEVER LEAVE HIM/HER ALONE. Be observant and attentive to the slave/sub; be acutely aware of any change in physical or mental state, for example...

Pale skin tone
Red or blotchy skin
Blue or purple finger tips or toes, especially in the nail beds
Blue coloration of the lips
Ragged breathing (noisy, short, chopping breathing)
Rapid, shallow breathing
Shivering, shaking
Coughing, gagging
Excessive sweating
Slurred speech, or inability to speak
Unresponsive
Dizziness

If any of these symptoms are present, use your best judgment. It may be something so simple as a dry mouth and a little water will help, or it may be they are choking and can't breathe. Always err on the side of caution, if the sub/slave starts to panic, they can do a great deal of damage to themselves, so it is best to keep a close eye on them for any warning sign and if anything does go wrong keep them calm.

Now that you are aware of the safety issues it is time to move on to more exciting things. What type of material will you use for the wrapping. Mummification can be done with a wide variety of wraps, such as cling wrap, ace bandages, and cloth, even leather. Each form of material has is benefits and its detriments.

Cling wrap or Saran Wrap is the most frequently used form of wrapping. This is true for several reasons. First, cling wrap is inexpensive and easy to obtain. Second, cling wrap comes in such interesting colors, and it is still transparent. Third, cling wrap is easily removable, if someone is unsure of how they will react with mummification this is the perfect material to use, one good cut and they are free. Cling wrap also has its down side, first it does not allow ventilation, therefore you must be extra cautious about over heating and dehydration. Also you must make absolutely sure the airway is not blocked, the risk of suffocation is very high due to the very nature of this material.

In most of the articles that I have read they state that you need approximately 75 feet of wrap; personally I find I usually need between 150 and 200 feet of cling wrap to cover to my satisfaction. I also use tape to secure the wrap in place, I love using tape and crisscrossing it across the body after I have it completely wrapped. I may go through four or five colors, creating a wondrous piece of art just waiting to be unwrapped. Speaking of unwrapping, normally when you remove the cling wrap the slave/sub will be drenched in sweat; make sure that you have plenty of towels handy and a blanket to wrap them in, just in case they get chilled, a nice warm shower may also be just what the Mistress ordered.

Ace Bandages are commonly used due to their durable nature; they are elastic and can stretch as needed. You can purchase ace bandages at any drug store or Wal-Mart around, so they are easily accessible. The price ranges on the brand, width and type of bandage you buy; you can get 2, 3, 4, and 6 inches wide. The length varies again with the brand and the width of the bandage. Ace bandages are much more expensive than cling wrap but then again you can wash and reuse the ace bandages, so each has its benefits.

I have read several articles about the use of ace bandages and how easy they are to use, one article that I ran across did have me questioning the experience level of the author. In this article the author stated that you could stretch the ace bandage tight across the nose and mouth and that the mummy would have no problem breathing through the bandage, especially if you pulled it tight. I would like to state that it is very difficult to breath properly through an ace bandage without some form of breathing apparatus and by stretching it tight you are only compressing the nasal passages where the slave/sub will be forced to be breath through his or her mouth. This also presses the lips against the teeth and makes breathing through the mouth questionable at best.

One warning I would like to voice at this time is to please remember that an ace bandage is elastic, hence when pulled tight it can act as a tourniquet. Check circulation and breathing frequently, do not pull the bandage too tight over the head, neck or chest or you will restrict breathing to a dangerous and perhaps even deadly level.

This same author suggested starting your mummification with the head, to add to the suspense of the whole experience. Personally I may put a blindfold on my victim but I would never wrap the head first. I want to leave the air way unobstructed for as long as possible, I also want my slave/sub to be able to communicate with me freely incase of anxiety or problems. I have used a leather hood that had a zipper where the mouth and eyes were and this worked wonderful as well. As much as you want this to be a memorable experience, you don't want to have to take someone to the ER or call the ambulance and explain it all to the police officers.

When using ace bandages be very observant where the bandage starts and stops, you do not want the bandage to build up in any joint, such as behind the knees, the armpit or between the legs, the added pressure may end up compromising circulation and shorten this unique experience quite a bit. One thing I found to be helpful is to sew together two or three of the bandages, this will allow for less build up and make it easier on you when you are wrapping. I normally use medical tape or the small metal butterfly clips that are provided with the bandage to hold them together. Do not use duct tape on the bandages unless you intend to throw them out when you finish, it will leave a sticky residue on the bandages that make them undesirable for future use. While ace bandages tend to cling to each other I do find that they will fold or slip out of position in areas where curves and bends are, nothing is more frustrating than having to unwrap and rewrap two and three times. Take your time, overlap the bandages by about one inch but remember that you need to allow for the body's natural curves; when you get to an area that has a natural bend, like the knees or shoulders, over lap the bandage by about half the bandage width this will cut down on the necessity to redo the wrapping.

Ace bandages are more breathable than cling wrap, however they are still an artificial material therefore they are not designed to allow the skin to breath well. The possibility of over heating is not as great but you still need to keep an eye on your slave/sub in case of heat related problems. He or she will end up sweating quite a bit so make sure to give him or her a sip of water every now and then. If the heat gets too bad you can place an ice cube at the back of the neck, the armpit, or the soles of the feet to cool him or her off.

Cloth wrap is the next most common form of wrapping used. Personally I have used this form on occasion, and enjoy it immensely. I always use 100% cotton material, this will allow for the skin to breath and not overheat. I will buy 1 yard of several different colors, then I will cut the material into strips 4 and 6 inches in width, sometimes I will cut 2 inch strips for wrapping the face but I find that those strips normally end up curling up and becoming quite useless even irritating. I will sew the strips together into sections of 15 to 20 feet, I then roll them up and use rubber bands to keep them neat and ready for use. When I use cloth wraps I find using medical tape or safety pins to secure the ends to be excellent choices; I have also used vet rap as a decorative addition to this little menagerie. Vet wrap is a clingy form of wrap that will stick only to itself, hence it will not leave any undesired sticky film like other adhesives might, it also comes in a wide variety of colors, and runs around $3.00 per roll.

This type of mummification is, in my honest opinion, the safest form. You are not faced with a lot of the heat related problems that you have with either cling wrap or ace bandages. You have the easy of emergency release by simply cutting through the material, since the price of material is not as great as with ace bandages you don't feel guilty about simply cutting you victim loose and throwing away the shredded wraps. Also there are those that find the cling wrap as well as the ace bandages to be more restricting when it comes to breathing, if you merely place one layer of cloth loosely across the nose and mouth area, overlapping about half of the strip then you will find that the slave/sub can easily breath. If you have never done a full body mummification I would suggest to start with this material, it may not be as easy to work with as cling wrap but it is definitely safer.

Leather wrapping is the most rare and definitely the most expensive form of mummification. Normally a soft suede is used as the wrapping, since the hides only come in small pieces you do have to sew together several strips to make it easy to work with. I would suggest using 4 and 6 inch strips, The addition of a leather hood for the head will make things simple and easy to work with. While this form of mummification definitely cost more it does have its benefits; like for instance, the smell of the leather will tantalize the senses and hypnotize the mind allowing one to soar to places within the subconscious that can be reached only when one is free from the boundaries of reality.

Most individuals that use leather as a form of mummification do not use strips of leather however, the majority of leather fans use a pre-made leather cocoon that laces up or zips up in the front. This interesting little plaything is called a body bag; they are rather pricey due to the cost of leather... normally between $800.00 and $2000.00, however they are easy to use and quick. Just slip your slave/sub inside and spend ten to twenty minutes lacing them up and voila!! You have instant mummy.

Now that you have familiarized your self with several types of wrapping, it is now time to move on to the actual mummification.

Please read Part 3 of this series for helpful hints and a variety of techniques on wrapping.

As with any article this is just my opinion, take what you will and leave the rest. If you wish to contact me, my email address is Norisch1@mchsi.com