Bondage play safety is the cornerstone of keeping your sex life safe, sane and consensual. So, before pulling out the ropes, cuffs, collars, ball gags, or what have you, it’s important that you bone up on the basic safety tips. One false move or minor miscalculation could result in a plot line for an episode of Sex Sent Me to the ER.

What Everyone Should Know About Bondage Play Safety

Trust

The foundation of any bondage play adventure is unwavering trust. For the person being tied up, you are essentially allowing another person complete control over your body. That is a huge responsibility for the individual playing the dominant role. This is why trusting each other is important.

HOT TIP: Don’t perform bondage play with anyone you do not trust!

Boundaries

Sometimes it’s hard knowing the boundaries especially if you’ve never tried bondage play before. First-time couples can establish boundaries by discussing what you want to get out of the experience. For example, you can talk about what it would feel like being blindfolded. Then expand on that by sharing the thing’s that are off limits while blindfolded. Once you become more experienced, you’ll discover more about what you like and don’t like.

HOT TIP: Write a list and start with things that are completely off limits and then move on to what you are willing to try. 

Communicate

Bondage play is not a passive game of solitaire where someone does all the work while the other waits patiently to be “punished.” Part of the excitement is both verbal and non-verbal communication. Bondage play safety relies a lot on your ability to communicate with your partner. Don’t be afraid of checking in with each other. Ask questions on how they are feeling emotionally, physically and mentally.

HOT TIP: Using ball gags restricts speech. Determine non-verbal signals before you start your scene.

Stay Present

There is an erotic thrill in completely surrendering someone you love and trust. But vulnerable delight can go from good to bad in a matter of seconds especially if you’re not careful. Bondage play safety means reacting to even the must subtle cues of distress. No matter the situation, NEVER EVER leave your partner when they are restrained. It does not matter if the world catches fire, there is never a reason for leaving your partner alone.

HOT TIP: You’d be surprised by the fight or flight response. Always keep a pair of EMT shears close by. You’ll never know when you’ll need them to cut your lover free!

Safe Words

Bondage play safety means sometimes having to use your words! Because your scene may not always go off as planned, safe words are essential to putting either an abrupt halt to the fun or slowing thing’s down a bit. You never need a good reason for using safe words.

HOT TIP: Words like red, yellow and green are universal and are easy to remember. 

Steer Clear

Drugs and alcohol are known for lessening sexual inhibitions. That’s why alcohol are called spirits! Intoxicated substances can also lead to a lot of bondage play safety hazards too. Bondage play requires a certain level of focus and concentration and impaired judgment and thinking gets in the way.

HOT TIP: There’s nothing like a natural high!Bondage play is a great way of letting your natural endorphins kick into overdrive. 

Mother May I?

With great power, comes great responsibility. And that is especially true when it comes to bondage play. Before engaging in kinky play, or any other sexual act, permission must be affirmed by both partners. You both must be in full agreement that certain things are okay to do to one another. But giving consent is not like having a blank check. People will sometimes change their minds. So, just because consent was given, for one thing, it does not obligate them in perpetuity.

HOT TIP: Be flexible! Sexual consent is dynamic and changes moment to moment. You’ll have more fun knowing permission was granted.

Plays Anatomy

Bondage play safety is all about preventing long or short-term physical harm while exploring the pleasure of the flesh. However, beneath all that flesh is an entire system of nerves, tendons, muscles, and so on. One of the most common, and avoidable, bondage injuries is nerve damage. Having a basic understanding of anatomy will help prevent anyone from getting hurt.

HOT TIP: Bindings should never cut too far into the skin and you should be on the lookout for any circulation issues like extremely cold and blue extremities.