Bondage Guide

None of the dangers in basic bondage are inherent; all are preventable and unlikely to happen with good techniques, practice and sensible precautions. In general:

You should never make any restraint too tight, this is especially important around the joints anywhere that major arteries or veins are near the surface or especially the neck. Generally, the harder and less flexible the restraint, the looser it should be, so you should be most careful with metal cuffs and collars should be the loosest; they should be able to slide easily around the limb or neck. Light, flexible chains looped around a wrist or ankle and padlocked can be a little tighter, but very heavy, large-link chains can bruise a joint or pinch a nerve as easily as solid cuffs and should be used with caution. Stiff leather cuffs can be tighter but should still have some "play" in them so they can be adjusted on the limb to keep the tension in a comfortable, safe direction. Rope and soft leather restraints, such as very lightweight cuffs or strips of glove leather, can be snug, but even with these you should be able to work one or two fingers between the restraint and the body.

Snug restraints should not be left on too long, and never without regular monitoring. Every 10 minutes or so, check for cooling of the skin or discoloration (usually whitening) on the limb below where the restraint is fastened. Ask the bottom to tell you if any extremity starts to go numb (and bottoms should always volunteer this information if necessary).

Avoid excess strain on muscles or joints by multiplying the points of tension to spread the effect over a wider area. Don't limit a rope web, for instance, to attachments at the wrists and ankles; attach ties to the elbows, knees, shoulders, waist, and thighs as well. The more widely distributed tension will be more exciting as well as safer. When you must put substantial tension on a single point, as when the bottom is held upright by restraints on hands stretched above the head, distribute the pressure over as wide an area as possible through the use of padded cuffs or wide coils of rope cinched between arms or legs.

Never leave someone who's inescapably bound completely alone for long periods, and no more than a minute or two if they are gagged or tied by the neck. Keep in earshot at least and look in on them frequently.

Make sure you know how to undo restraints before you put them on; keep any keys handy. Be prepared to cut difficult knots or bonds in an emergency. It is probably also wise to take a basic first aid course and have easy access to a telephone.

Go slow with novices and first encounters, and be especially sensitive to the bottom's emotional reactions, providing frequent gentle body contact, spoken encouragement, and other reassurance. Watch out for developing panic. A good rule of thumb for bottoms is, never let yourself be tied up on a first date. Get to know the top's style and abilities without bondage first. It's a judgment call whether to break this rule; it depends on how much you can learn about the top before you go home with them. It is also a good idea to ask other subs who have been with the dom before for a recommendation. Certainly anyone who is safe and sane won't have to many problems with people giving recommendations.

Certain bondage positions have more potential for problems than others. Specifically standing for any length of time. If someone is tied standing up, it's fairly easy for their upper extremities to go numb or for them to faint or lose their balance and fall (putting even more stress on arms and wrists, or neck which means if it is tied always be extra vigilant. There can be a danger of a faint or fall even after release from a standing position, as the sub may be dizzy or shaky from impaired circulation. Of course standing positions can be great fun, but just be aware and a little more cautious.