Bondage Safety Techniques

Bondage Safety Techniques

By Elena Ognivtseva

Bondage can be a highly satisfactory game to indulge in. With the various toys and accessories, your imaginative powers will meet their match as you try different techniques, materials, toys and accessories in endless combinations. However, bondage incorporates an element of risk, making safe play the most important aspect of the whole game. To ensure that the sessions are successful, there has to be adherence to both verbal and physical rules meant to provide a safe environment for all involved.

Safeword

This is important as it signifies the end of the game. Not to be seen as a sign of weakness, uttering the safeword is for your own good. As a submissive, your safety should be very important to you, more important than seeing how far you can hold out despite the pain.

Discuss

Before starting out, take your time to choose a safeword that is recognisable by both of you. It is always safe to choose a word that can be misconstrued as part of a statement. The safeword should be clear and simple, ensuring that the submissive utters it almost instinctively, as opposed to taking the time to remember what it was.

Attention

As the game goes on, the dominant should always take the steps slowly and surely, keeping an ear out for the safeword. A fairly quiet environment is recommended to avoid the voice of the submissive being drowned by the loud noises or music blaring.

Stop Immediately

Once the safeword is uttered, you stop immediately and release your partner from the position they are in to a more comfortable one. If the knots are too complicated, cut the rope or cord immediately to prevent any further damage. The expensive toys are replaceable but your submissive is not. Make sure to always have a pair of surgical flat scissors on hand in cases of emergencies.

Physical Safety

• Start Slow

Never attempt to tie knots that you are unfamiliar with. Always start with the basics and as you get more comfortable with the basic knots, advance slowly. If you are a beginner, do not try suspension bondage as you may cause injury to your submissive. Always stick to your skill level.

• The Neck

Never tie anything around the neck or across the front of the neck. The tightening or pulling of the rope may lead to obstruction of the airways, risking choking or even loss of consciousness. For total safety, keep your knots and rope away from the neck.

• Pressure Points

There are veins that run just under the skin surface, like on the inside of the wrists. As you tie your rope, always avoid tying across these areas. The joints are also to be avoided as any wrong move can cause dislocations or nerve damage. 

• Time Period

Losing feeling in extremities is always a risk especially in some positions. Although it may not be an emergency, losing feeling is a sign that there is poor circulation. Always check for signs of turning color and immediately release your partner if you see any color change. Numbness may be nothing, but it may also be a sign of nerve damage. Always make sure to constantly monitor circulation throughout the session to prevent any damage from occurring. When your partner is tied up, always ensure that the time spent in that position is tolerable for them and never go a minute longer. The body can stay in one position for so long before going numb and always ensure you get them out of the hold before their time threshold is surpassed.

• Stay With Your Partner

Once they are tied up, always stay by your partner’s side. Leaving your partner unattended while they are tied up is very dangerous as they run a risk of falling over and hurting themselves or going numb with no immediate attention. Always untie them before leaving to ensure their safety.

Cleanliness

Always ensure that you clean your toys and accessories with antibacterial toy cleaner and plenty of warm water. The materials the toys are made out of may trap the body fluids, leading to festering of germs and bacteria that cause infections. If you have multiple partners, ensure that all toys and accessories are made from non-porous materials.