Safety in Rope Bondage Play - What Every BDSM Practitioner Should Know

We can never be sure that nothing will go wrong and that we won't be forced to stop a scene prematurely. In order to make sure that this can be done quickly and effectively there are a few tools that each bondage practitioner should have in their toy bag to prevent a disaster. What should these be? Well I have spoken to quite a few experts on bondage and also looked into advice offered by some books, especially one written by Jay Wiseman on Erotic Bondage. These are the results of my survey:

If you are using locks, then make sure that you have at least one extra set of keys and that the keys as well as the locks are marked appropriately to identify them quickly. What some of my friends have done is to mark the key and the lock with a dot of color and to make sure that the keys are always in plain sight when they tie someone up. Some of them also refuse to use combination locks as these have let them down in the past. They use locks that can only be opened by keys. These locks are cheap and widely available if you need to buy some.

When you work with chains you need a hacksaw, bolt cutters, hacksaw blades, some oil and some way of keeping the metal still while you cut through it. Make sure that your blades are sharp and that your bolt cutters work well before you include them in your emergency kit.

Sometimes people only use leather cuffs and sometimes they get locked with locks and the keys are gone, or the cuff does not want to open. It is possible to slip someone's hand through it. Make sure that you do not hurt your bottom while doing this. If you can't do this, then you need to cut the item off the bottom. You will need specialized equipment for this though.

You should always have scissors handy. Scissors should be able to glow in the dark or be easily visible if the power goes out. Mark your scissors with a highlighter that will give you that glow and if possible, sharpen the blades regularly. When you have to use it make sure that you do not cut skin with the rope. Also, most tops I know use EMT scissors that are safer and can be found in any medical stores outlet or on the Internet. Buy one for each toy bag you have in order to make sure you have enough. It is even a good idea for a bottom to have this item handy in their own toy bags.

You would never believe it, but crochet hooks come in handy too when stubborn knots need to be untied. You could also use an ice pick, an awl or a knitting needle for this purpose.

You might also want to purchase some pliers to help you grip rope and help you pull it when you are trying to untie a person. This tool is standard in most rope players' bags. It is helpful to look at their emergency equipment to gauge whether they are really as proficient as they say.

Sometimes nothing else will help -- you might need to cut your rope. If you have to use a knife, make sure it is a sharp knife and that you do not cut away skin in the process too. You do want someone to enjoy the experience and to want to play with you again. Cutting them while trying to free them might not be such a good sign of your proficiency. There are of course knots that can be used to make it easier to release a bottom known as release knots and slipknots. As I really do not know how to do them or have no other knowledge of them, I would suggest that you learn them from someone who knows how or that you read books on shibari, where these knots are also covered.