Safety Considerations
See also the articles about safety for hitting on the buttocks, with whips, and slapping the face
Erotic punishments are not in itself dangerous, but they have some risks, as in contact sports. Learn and practice.
We cannot write here a treaty on safety, and we are not experts in the area, but we can give you some basic advice.
First, if you are a top, remember that the punished trusts you, and depends on you. Is your responsibility to protect her/him. Protect her/him by being careful, responding to the safe word and checking his/her status, even when s/he don't say the safe word.
If you like to play hard, remember that taking somebody into agony, where the pain doesn't allow her/him even thinking, can take your bottom to ecstasy, but also to clinical shock, unconsciousness and probably to death. What is worse, the wriggling of somebody in agony resemble that of sexual arousal, and the effects of shock, a deep calm.
Somebody in agony could not remember the safety word, or couldn't be able to say it. If you want to play safe, avoid extreme play.
Check that all the equipment is in good condition and that the hardware and furniture to be used is strong enough for supporting not only the weight of the bottom, but also the stress of somebody writhing and fighting against the bindings, which can be up to five times its weight.
You should not put into the body holes instruments not designed for that use. Avoid edges and points. Instrument handles in general were not designed to insert in the body.
When hitting…
Hit only in body areas protected by thick muscles and fat. Internal organs are easily damaged by blows, and the bones chip or brake when hit with something hard as a wooden instrument. Some areas less prone to damage are the lower part of the buttocks, the upper thighs, and with flexible instruments like whips and straps, the upper part of the back, to the sides of the spine.
Don't hit over an area that is bruised, cut or otherwise damaged by a previous punishment. Wait until thoroughly healed.
Don't hit in the trunk in the areas that are not protected by the ribs, like the abdomen, full of unprotected internal organs, on the lower part of the back (there are the kidneys) or over the spine.
When hitting on hands and feet, the stinging is from the skin, but the pain is from crushing the flesh against the bones. Then, hit soft and carefully on them and only with flexible or light instruments, because they are complicated mechanisms full or nerves, muscles and small bones, that are easily damaged and very difficult to repair. Both are full or nervous endings, and are very sensitive.
Hit only on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. The upper side of hands and feet has very little flesh protection and you will hurt something. Don't hit on the fingers or toes, you could damage the delicate joints.
Also be careful when hitting the genitals. Go for the sting, not the pain. The women's breasts are also prone to damage. If you are going to hit there, be sure to hurt just the skin, and not the nerves and glands on the inside.
Knees and ankles and surrounding areas have very little protection and are also easily hurt.
Never hit on the head or the neck. If you like giving some slaps in the face, hit only with your fingers on the cheeks, and soft, only for getting attention and humiliating, not for giving pain. You could hold the chin with the other hand, to avoid the whiplash on the neck. Do not hit over the ears or eyes.
A strong slap (or a cuffing) is going to hurt something. (It can cause brain injuries, hurt the face's nerves, break the cheekbones, cause a detached retina, and many more).
Don't play (and that means NO) when your judgment is altered by the ingestion of alcohol and/or drugs. If you are in no condition to drive your car, you cannot play.
Hittting with instruments
If using your hands, remember to take off all rings, which can injury your partner. And of course, never hit anywhere on the body with your fists.
Punishment instruments are not toys. Their blows can leave marks, bruise and rise blisters. If you hit with too much force, repeatedly, or in inadequate way, they can wound or hurt seriously. And, of course, strong blows can cause death.
Practice with inanimate objects, (cushions, pillows, etc.) until you are sure that you can hit with them safely. Remember that the longer the instrument, more difficult is to control where it hits, and more practice is needed.
With paddles and straps, hit with the flat part. Avoid hitting with the sides, because you can hurt your bottom seriously, and when hitting with straps or whips, be sure of hitting on the elected surface. If they bend at the side of the body it will wrap faster, and can easily hurt.
The points of whips and straps can cut the skin. Of course, don't hit with the handles, with the buckles or other hardware.
With canes and rods, hit with the last third of the cane, but avoid hitting with the point, which could cause a hematoma.
With riding crops, in the traditional ones, hit with the slapper and not with the shaft . There is a
hard "knot" in the union of the shaft with the slapper, which could hurt and cause a hematoma.
The new ones could be used as severe canes
As natural materials cannot be sterilized, that kind of implements (as the underwear) should not by shared
among several subjects, and must never be used in another person if stained it with blood. (Some viruses can live a long time on the implements and out of the body).
Please, read the rest of the articles in this section before playing (and perhaps hurting your sub). We have the following specialized safety articles:
some first aid tips., information on bruises, and the way instruments work
Have fun, but with responsibility and common sense (have you heard about safe, sane and consensual?)
Published: 12/20/02
Rev: 05/09/03; 09/19/03; 01/09/04