Summary of Physical Safety (for easy access)

Four aspects affecting nerve compression:

• Placement
• Time
• Tightness
• Broadness of the rope

Risks of nerve compression:

• Loss of motor skills and/or sensory awareness
• Can last for a few seconds up to days/weeks/months, or in the worst case, permanently

What to do when a nerve is compressed:

• Move the rope to see if the compression is caused by the placement of the rope
• Untie that part of the body and check in to decide if you want to continue tying or not

What the person being tied can do to take responsibility:

• Get to know your own body
• Speak up as soon as you feel anything uncomfortable
• Tie with people you trust

What the person tying can do to take responsibility:

• Check your partner’s motor skills and sensations by squeezing their hands during tying
• Ask specifically if anything feels uncomfortable or could change
• Avoid tying:
  • Inside and outside of joints
  • On areas with less fat and muscle
  • Specific spots where the nerves are less protected (e.g. where the muscles meet on the upper arm)

Other things to be aware of:

• The friction of the ropes can cause burn marks when pulled quickly
• Rope scissors can be used to cut the ropes if needed without hurting the skin

Don’t be too scared of the risks, but also don’t take them too lightly. Find the balance.