The signs you are looking for are such things as sudden, increased sweating, shallow breathing and signs of discomfort (usually attempts to shift position). Anything that shows “restlesness” are signs that the suspended person is getting close to the point where it needs to end. Act on them! By the time you have brought your partner back to the floor, you may have already passed the “snap” point, even if you work fast. The knowledge, the suspension is being released, will usually help to avoid a panic attack.

Physical signs

Most bondage safety articles will tell you that limbs turning cold, pale, red or blue are bad sign and that you should act on them. That is only partially true and in fact – while the statement is probably correct and good advice for novices – you will want to look at this more closely.

Discoloring limbs or extremities (fingers and toes) can mean a lot of different things. Discoloring lips and noses in fact give yet a different signal, so here we go:

As soon as lips turn pale or blue, the person is likely to faint very soon! Just before fainting many people experience discoloring lips and/or the lips and nose may turn cold and lips especially will be dry. In any event, this means you have to release your partner as quickly as you can.

Hands, feet, fingers and toes discoloring are a signal you have blocked the bloodflow, but that does not have to be dramatic. Hands or feet turning cold(er) and the tingling sensation may be irritating (and as a result will have a negative influence on the concentration and the fun), but they are not yet dramatic and there is time enough (as in five to ten minutes) to adjust the situation. As they grow colder, they will probably also turn white.

The next stage is changing color to reddish and they may swell a little. This is definately a stage you should act on. Loosen the ropes in that area and bear in mind that it may take several minutes for the blood to return. This may be a (very) painful sensation.

Blue hands, feet, fingers and toes are an alarm signal. Limbs turn blue because used blood (i.e. blood that is not bringing nutrients and oxygen, but that is taking back waste products on its way out) cannot get through. The waste products in the blood may cause blood poisoning. While this is not something you should act on within seconds, it is something you should do something about – again, alleviate the bondage locally and restore the free flow of blood.

Bear in mind that it does not have to be the ropes, causing the problem. Observe what is happening. Quite often a tightly folded arm or leg may cause the same problems or it may just be the heart has trouble fighting gravity. This is especially true as soon as the hands are higher than the ears or the head is below the heart.

Another thing to take into account here is room temperature. Quite often the play area is simply too cold and discoloring limbs may simply be a sign of low temperature, rather than a blocked bloodstream. Pre-heating the room and keeping at a slightly higher temperate than normal will usually deal with this problem.

Panic snaps (hooks)
Panic snaps will come to your aid and in fact you should use them always! Panic hooks belong in between the point of suspension (i.e. the ceiling hooks, wall rings or the beam) and the ring or hook the suspension ropes are tied too. In other words, from top the bottom, the only correct use of panic snaps is:

1. ceiling hook or ring, tackle hook or wall hook

2. PANIC SNAP

3. ring or hook to tie or attach the bondage or bondage equipment to

In between ALL fixed points and the suspension itself should be a panic snap! Always!

You can buy panic snaps from riding shops. They are normally used to create a safe situation to tie a horse. Should it panic, all anyone needs to do is pull the hook and the horse can run free and not hurt itself. Releasing a panic snap requires no physical effort. You can do it with two fingers and with no physical strength needed. In other words, they work fast and you can fully concentrate on your partner.

DON’T pull the snaps without supporting your partner in order to prevent him or her dropping on the floor!!!

 

The above article is a reprint from our information/educational site Kink Culture.
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