Recent research has revealed that humans need to be able to breathe. As the saying goes: You only have about three minutes to live, but the timer gets reset every time you take a breath.

Prevention

Restriction: A person can breathe by moving either their diaphragm or their chest or both. If you put a tight band of rope on the soft waist, you can make it difficult for them to move their diaphragm. They then need to breathe by moving their chest instead (this results in a “heaving chest” which some people find very hot), but this can be difficult for some. Restricting both the chest and the diaphragm at the same time makes breathing much more difficult and increases the risk significantly. This is why it is important that you do not tie both the waist and chest tightly.

Positional issues: It is also possible to immobilize one or both of a person’s breathing mechanisms by putting them into extreme positions. For example, if you tie them into a tight ball or a hog tie. Such challenging positions can make breathing extremely difficult. When attempting these positions, it is critically important to work well within the rope bottom’s physical capabilities and closely monitor them. Someone unable to breathe is unable to speak to let you know there is a problem! Cases like this are where it can be helpful to give them something heavy or loud to drop if they need help.

Asthma: During negotiation, ask if your partner has asthma or any other breathing issues. Have their inhaler or other emergency tools immediately within reach. During the scene, take care to manage their breathing rate. If they are starting to breathe heavily, calm things down until they catch their breath.

Treatment

React immediately the moment you detect any issue with breathing. Loosen the ropes quickly. If the bottom is in distress, cut them free. If they need an inhaler, give it to them as soon as they are able to take in breath (meaning if they are unable to draw a breath due to restriction or position, cut them free first, then give them the inhaler. If they can breathe and just need the inhaler, give it to them first, then untie them).