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Check if the person is unresponsive. Do this by shaking
them and talking to them. If so call for help! Dial 999.
Lie them flat and check that their airway is clear. Tilt
the head back and lift the chin. Remove any obvious obstructions
from the mouth.
Check for breathing by observing chest movement, breathing
sounds and feeling for airflow. If breathing is not present,
give the person two slow breaths. Do this by gently pinching
their nose, thus closing the nostrils. Breathe in and place
your mouth firmly over theirs. Breathe out slowly. Watch
their chest rise as you exhale. Remove your mouth from theirs
and allow their chest to fall again before you repeat this
process.
Check for heartbeat by feeling for pulse. Either the inside
of the wrist, just above the base of the thumb. (Radial
Pulse) Or, the neck, below the ear and level with the bottom
of the jaw. (Carotid Pulse)
If heart beat is not present, begin cardiac massage. Measure
two finger widths up from the base of the breast bone (Sternum)
and place the palm of your hand above that point. Place
your other hand on top of the first and clasp it between
the fingers. Push down from your shoulders. Do not use excessive
force as this could cause internal injury. The sternum should
give about 2-3 inches.
Pace yourself by counting aloud “one and,” “two and,” etc
as you perform 15 compressions of the chest. Follow this
with 2 inflations of the lungs and repeat the cycle until
help arrives.
If there are two people present, perform CPR at the ratio
of 7 compressions followed by 1 inflation and repeat.
If the person has stopped breathing, but has a pulse, only
perform mouth to mouth. Also if their breathing continues,
but pulse is not present, only perform chest compressions.
In both cases keep a careful watch that the remaining body
function does not stop. If it does then resort to full CPR.
Finally, if spontaneous breathing and heartbeat should
suddenly return, however unlikely, stop CPR.
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Common sense
Common sense is one of the best safety devices around. Unfortunately
it does not seem to be that common.
Think about what you do!
Always try to differentiate between FANTASY and REALITY. Although
the line separating the two can be very slim indeed, it can be
the difference between a scene which is perfectly safe and one
which is potentially very hazardous.
Try to be aware of who you are playing with, both physical and
psychological responses are very important. Try to be aware of
your scene. Think of what you have done, what you are doing and
what you are going to do. When you think about these things, also
think about the physical and psychological consequences of your
actions.
Try to consider the physical and psychological limitations of
your partner and also your self. It may be necessary to discuss
these limits before embarking on a scene.
One of the limiting factors is knowledge, and one of the ways
around this limit is sharing knowledge. For some activities, you
must be competent as well as confident. [top
of page]
What do you need to know?
As well as a person’s sexual likes and dislikes, fetishes, etc,
it also helps to know if someone is likely to drop dead on you,
or has a medical problem which could be relevant to something
you are about to do with them. Most people regard their personal
medical details as something very intimate, but there are one
or two conditions which warrant discussion. Even little things
like false teeth or contact lenses can bring a very sudden downer
on what could otherwise have been a good sex.
Examples; Anxiety attacks, Arthritis, Asthma or other respiratory
disorder, Circulatory disorders, Diabetes, Heart disorders, Neurological
disorders. The list is probably endless. You should know if you
have a medical condition that your partner should be aware of.
If you do not tell them about it, it could have unpleasant, or
potentially fatal results. This can work both ways.
Some people feel that HIV status is a relevant topic for discussion,
but if you are practising safer sex it seems a little irrelevant.
However, other STDs might be worth mentioning to prevent your
partner getting a dose. [top
of page]
Pain
Pain is the body’s way of telling you it has a problem, damage
is being done! When you are hurting someone during a scene and
they are enjoying the pain, if it changes or another pain becomes
present the scene may be going wrong. If the bottom is experiencing
pain which they are not enjoying, and you are not in control of
that pain, you must stop the scene immediately and find out what
is wrong. [top
of page]
Numbness/tingling/cramp
If something goes numb or tingly, it has probably been tied up
too tightly, or in the wrong position. Release the bondage and
massage the area. It should return to normal with five minutes.
Cramp is due to reduced blood flow. This may also be caused by
bondage being too tight or the positioning being wrong, but it
can also be caused by sluggish blood flow due to immobility. In
addition to the above, try flexing the affected area. [top
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Coping with panic
Panic is the mind’s way of saying ‘Get me out of here’, so if
a bottom panics that is the end of the scene. Stop the scene,
release them from any bondage, and calm them down with a cuddle. [top
of page]
Fainting
Lack of oxygen or a drop in the blood pressure can result in
fainting. If it’s the bottom, release them from any bondage. Check
the person’s airway is clear, that they are breathing and have
a pulse. If they are not breathing and/or do not have a pulse,
call an ambulance and start CPR immediately. (See panel)
However if they are still alive, either sit the person down and
place their head between their knees, or lie them down and slightly
raise their feet, whichever is easiest. They should recover quite
quickly. [top
of page]
Diabetes
Physical and mental stress results in an increase in metabolic
function. In diabetics, this can result in Hypo-glycaemia (Low
blood sugar). This can, with very little warning, cause the diabetic
to lose consciousness. Common symptoms are profuse sweating and
clamminess, sudden mood changes, appearing drunk, disorientation.
Unfortunately, just asking if they are OK will not always get
a sensible response because the brain needs sugar to function
properly.
Initial treatment is simple. Glucose! Any form as long as they
do not choke on it. So give them some chocolate, a jam sandwich,
glucose sweet, Lucozade, you name it.
Now get them lying down, keep them warm and continue feeding
them glucose. If they worsen, or have not begun recovering within
ten minutes dial 999. [top
of page]
Bleeding
Superficial bleeding will stop of its own accord; if you wish,
apply antiseptic, but a good shower will probably do as much good.
Injuries above the neck tend to bleed more then other areas of
the body and this can make them seem worse than they actually
are.
If someone is bleeding profusely, apply firm pressure to the
injured area using a clean cloth.
If the bleeding does not stop, it may be necessary to visit the
local Accident and Emergency department.
If the injury was caused by something dirty or an old piece of
metal, it is a good idea to check that the person’s tetanus vaccinations
are up to date. [top
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Burns
You should only attempt to treat localised and superficial burns
(First degree) yourself. Hold the injury under cold, running water
or use an ice water compress (or a packet of frozen peas), until
the pain subsides. Cover the area with a sterile, non adhesive
dressing for a couple of days. If there is any sign of discharge,
seek medical advice. [top
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Other problems
If you are in any doubt, if you think there might be a broken
limb or a spinal injury or concussion, just get the person to
lie still, keep them warm and dial 999.
Do not worry, whatever you have been up to the staff will have
seen worse and they are bound by confidentiality regulations not
to repeat what they see. However because of the
current legal situation in the UK regarding SM you would be
well-advised to stick to describing the nature of the problem
and not say anything about its cause.
Other problems which warrant a trip in an ambulance include any
prolonged bleeding from the vagina, anus or urethra. Also the
irretrievable loss of any items up any of the aforementioned orifices. [top
of page]
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