Safety and Risk Management information is presented throughout this site.  The pages in this series hold a tremendous amount of very important information that will help you reduce your risk.  We also include risk information in the various tutorials so you can see in context where a particular risk may come in to play and what you can do to manage that risk.

That said, here are a few general safety and risk management rules to keep in mind at all times:

• Never use slip knots or knots that can tighten when pulled directly on a human body.  These are referred to as “collapsing knots”.  If rope is able to tighten, it can cut off blood flow and/or cause nerve damage (which can be permanent).
• Don’t put a hard knot in middle of your partner’s spine if you’re going to lay them on their back on a firm surface.  (This is less of an issue on a soft, cushioned surface, but keep it in mind even then.)
• Don’t put a knot in your partner’s armpit.
• Don’t put uncontrolled pressure across the front or front-and-sides of the neck.
• Check the condition of your rope before you use it. Look for frays, dirt, etc.
• Body fluids can accumulate on rope, so wash your rope and/or have a set of rope dedicated for use on a given regular partner.
• Discuss the risks of your planned scene with your partner and decide together how to manage them to an acceptable level
• Pay attention to the risks of a specific tie and manage those risks.
• Remember that changing the Bottom’s position after the tie can change muscle tightness. What was an acceptable tightness in one position, may be way too tight if you then move the person into a different position. It is best to have your partner generally in the desired end position as you are tying them.