Bondage Safety

Friday, June 11, 2004

By Bruce Argue

This article is for guidance only as I am not medically qualified, neither is it exhaustive. However, it is the basis of one of the sections in my forthcoming DVD, The Art of Erotic Bondage, a guide for beginners, where I discuss safety with Dr Sean Cummings of Wimpole Street.

Bondage is probably the most risky area of BDSM, but also the most popular, especially with newcomers. Shibari (Japanese bondage), in its original form, was designed not only to restrain, but to torture and kill.

Do not underestimate the effects of even relatively simple bondage. Accidents do happen, even the most experienced practitioners have had incidents. Have fun but go slowly and don't take chances. Minimise the risks by identifying them and learning how to play safely.

Since suspension, i.e. suspending the subject partly or wholly off the ground, massively increases the risks, it should not be attempted without the personal guidance of an experienced practitioner. It hugely increases all the stresses that can be created by bondage and makes all the problems mentioned in this article very much more likely to occur.

Positional asphyxia is a particular hazard. This is where unusual stress is placed upon the muscles involved in breathing and may be caused by tight chest bondage, for example. The muscles become tired and eventually unable to operate hence breathing stops. This is the main way that crucifixion kills so be very careful if breathing is affected by your bondage or the position into which your partner is forced.

Do not rely on what you see on the net as a guide to what is safe bondage practice. They are likely to be of experienced bondage models in positions only held for the few seconds it takes to shoot the picture and are staged by an entire crew. Much of it is definitely not safe. Also, with the use of photo-editing software, the impossible can easily be faked.

Always keep a safe tool capable of quickly cutting your strongest rope to hand, e.g. EMT shears or bandage scissors. If you use chains, you'll need bolt cutters. If you need them, you are likely to need them quickly.

Monitoring and safe-words

Monitor your sub very carefully. Communication is essential. Check to see if there is any unwelcome discomfort, whether a knot or rope could be adjusted for better effect. A knot digging in or a rope chaffing can adversely affect the whole experience. Eye contact will tell you volumes. Ask them to tell you if they experience any unpleasant sensations. Observe breathing and skin temperature.

Make sure you have unambiguous safe-words. A safe-word can be any pre-arranged signal or word to end or change the pace of the session. This is vital when "No" or other pleas to stop could be just part of the game. For example, colours are popular choices, e.g. red = stop immediately, orange = I'm approaching my limits and green = go on. Safe-words are sacred and must always be obeyed instantly. Don't even joke about ignoring them. If you have any doubt that the person tying you will not respect them, walk away. A good dominant should be aware enough to pre-empt their use.

The 'double squeeze' technique is a sensible safeguard, i.e. the dom gives two squeezes of the hand to the sub; if all is OK, the sub returns them. Failure to respond should set the alarm bells ringing. It is recommended that you are familiar with basic First Aid and resuscitation.

Falling and fainting

The most obvious hazard to both falling and fainting are impact injuries through striking the floor or other objects. In order to minimise the risk of fainting, you should make sure that your sub has eaten fairly recently, but not too heavily, and does not become dehydrated. Energy drinks, water and snacks are good to have handy. Alcohol and drugs (legal or otherwise) should be avoided as they increase the likelihood of accidents. Be careful with those suffering from low blood pressure as they seem especially prone to fainting.

Warning signs of impending loss of consciousness include dizziness, nausea and rise in temperature. If your partner mentions any of these symptoms, heed the warnings signs and act quickly.

However, bondage carries additional risks in certain circumstances if you tie to fixed or heavy objects. For example, the consequences of tying piercings in this way and a fall could be very unpleasant - what could happen to genitals doesn't even bear thinking about. Accidental hanging is another hazard to watch out for. Ensure that anything you anchor to is secure and cannot be toppled accidentally. See also Dislocation and Strangulation.

Fainting or a fall can easily result in these problems, as ropes can be pulled out of position or result in unexpected stresses. Tight bondage and hands above the head positions tend to figure in many fainting incidents. However, suspension is the most likely type of bondage to cause fainting as it produces extra stresses and is likely to make breathing difficult. At the risk of stating the obvious, make sure that any fixing or suspension points are very secure. For overhead points, you can be reasonably sure that floor joists are strong enough. However, your fixings should be of suitable specification and properly mounted. Miss a joist and you will almost certainly bring the ceiling down. Guaranteed to kill your passion, if not you or your sub. Wall mounted points will either need to be screwed into brickwork with Rawplugs or directly into the battens in a cavity wall. If in doubt, get qualified help.

Fire and emergencies

If the worst happened, how quickly could you get you and your playmate out of the house? It is all too easy for a candle or cigarette to get forgotten in the heat of the moment and start a fire. Could you find your safety scissors/bolt cutters/spare keys in time?

Leaving a sub unattended is just plain irresponsible. Any of the problems in this section could occur, and with no means of escape, the consequences could be damaging or lethal.

Medical conditions

Common sense should apply. In my opinion, those with conditions such as heart, breathing problems, pregnancy, abnormal blood pressure, blackouts or fits should avoid bondage. Bondage can be very stressful. One should also be aware of existing or old injuries or anything, which may be exacerbated.

Ropes burn and splinters

Test ropes on yourself. Pull the rope across your own skin (a soft and sensitive area) and note how fast it has to travel before it becomes uncomfortable. Synthetic rope heats up at much slower speeds than natural fibre.

Some natural fibres can be very harsh and prickly, e.g. sisal. Washing or boiling the ropes solves this problem. Fabric conditioners or an oil, such as Mink oil, can be used to soften the ropes further. Stray fibres can be carefully burnt off with a candle.

Cheap polypropylene ropes often seen in builders merchants and DIY stores are unsuitable as they can shed minute splinters, especially when they become old.

Strangulation, choking and breathing difficulties

To minimise the risk of strangulation, never place a rope over the front of the neck or around the neck. Nooses are definitely out. The only safe configuration is halter neck style, so any pressure is on the back of the neck. You should also be aware of ropes, which may slip and end up around the neck. The risks are multiplied with suspension or if your sub falls or faints.

A bound submissive cannot remove a gag. It is your responsibility to avoid choking or other problems, so you need to be observant and not leave your sub unattended. Never use anything that could be swallowed, become lodged in the throat or obstruct the airways.

Breathing difficulties can also be caused by constriction, e.g. of the rib cage. Don't tie too tight. Remember that as you add wraps of rope or cinch the bindings, the tightness will increase.

In particular, suspension needs to be treated with extreme care as it can turn normally comfortable ties into crushing constriction. Suspension was used as a method of torture in the original forms of Shibari. It can kill. Certain positions can make breathing difficult. The degree of stress to which the sub is subjected can also increase breathing rates. Never underestimate the effect of being bound in a fixed position can have over time.

Circulation

At best, lack of circulation causes 'Pins and needles' and numbness. At worst, body parts are damaged or even die without a blood supply. Restricting circulation should be avoided by keeping a little slack in the ropes. The 'one finger rule' is that you should be able to slip a finger under the bondage. Keep an eye out for ropes tightening during play or as you build up the bondage. Insist that your sub should not to try to be a hero and inform you immediately of any tingling, unpleasant pain or loss of sensation.

Avoid placing knots on blood vessels, e.g. on inside of wrists. Also, tie above, not on joints. The thicker the rope and the more turns, the lower the risk. Anything less that 6mm (1/4") should be avoided for general use. Hands usually suffer first. So as not to end your scene prematurely and for safety, it is a very good idea to do your bondage so that the hands can be easily released without having to untie everything else.

Temperature is a good indicator. Note how warm your subs hands and feet are at the start of the scene, if they become noticeably colder, it is possible that circulation has been restricted. This sounds simple in theory, but is not so easy to gauge accurately in practice. Another test is to squeeze a finger or toe and see how quickly the colour returns to the nail. The slower the return, the worse the circulation.

Nerve damage

Nerve damage can be painless and thus occur without any warning. It is often permanent. It is usually caused by the rope crushing the nerve fibres due to tight constriction or pressure on a nerve in a boney area. The first method of minimising damage is to stick to the 'one finger rule'. The second is to avoid tying over bony areas and to study the locations of the main nerves at risk in an anatomy book.

Dislocation

Obviously, physical force should be used with care. Moving a bound sub around can put unexpected strains on limbs. Falling creates, probably, the biggest hazard; not only from contact with the ground, but also where limbs are attached to a static object. Hoists, pulleys etc. should be used with care, the extra mechanical 'muscle' they provide could easily result in dislocations.

The dom should always be aware of the risk of the sub falling. Having the arms tied will hamper the sub's balance and also deprive them of the natural preventive/protective mechanisms in the event of a fall. Loose or surplus rope can cause a tripping hazard. It is not a bad idea to attach a safety rope to part of the body harness to a secure overhead point, especially if the bondage evolves balancing on one leg.

Where not to tie

I make no apology for reiterating that you should never place a rope across the throat or in a way that it could obstruct circulation or breathing. Passing the rope over the back of the neck is the only safe method. Bindings should not be placed on joints, except the hips. This can lead to loss of circulation or nerve damage. Take care to place arm or leg bindings above the bony area of the joint. Leave plenty of slack as cinching will often tighten the binding more than you expect. Use the 'one finger' rule.

Never tie any part of the body or piercing, which could be pulled off or otherwise damaged in the event of a fall or fainting, to a fixed or heavy object.

The basis of this article and other useful bondage related information can be found at www.esinem.com.