When doing floor-level bondage (“floor work”, i.e. non-suspension), it is still possible for a person to fall. For example: If they are seated in a precarious position, they may tip and fall, unable to catch themselves. If a person is standing with their ankles and arms tied and they begin to fall over, it would be very difficult for them to catch their balance. If they are attached to an overhead point — not suspended from it, just tied to it — and something goes wrong, they could fall before they know what is happening. They might faint. A fall can happen from a standing position or off a piece of furniture or down an architectural feature like steps.

Prevention

Be conscious of falling or tripping hazards. Keep a close watch on someone in a position where falling is possible. Keep your play area free from tripping hazards the best you can. Bottoms, be careful when in rope; particularly if moving around the space when tied. Tops, help your bottoms move safely.

Treatment

Small falls: Check for injury and treat that injury. Bruising, swelling, perhaps bleeding or abrasion, as long as they are not serious, should be treated just as you normally would.

Serious falls: Any broken bones, severe pain, strikes to the head, loss of consciousness, or any indication that there may have been damage to the spine (immediate onset of pain in the neck or back, any immediate numbness that the person didn’t have before, any paralysis or incontinence) indicate that something serious has happened.

If the person is responsive and alert, they can guide your response to the injury. For example, a broken arm is serious, but it may not require that an ambulance be called. The person may instead prefer that a friend drive them to the nearest Urgent Care facility — but keep in mind that just because they think they feel okay in the moment, this does not mean they have not suffered a serious injury. Shock is common. They should still be checked out by a medical professional.

If they are not responsive or alert: Take immediate emergency action.

• If they are breathing, do not to move them unless absolutely necessary to prevent further harm, e.g. the position they are in is preventing them from being able to breathe or impairing circulation. If they are excessively bleeding, you may need to move them to put pressure on wound. If you do need to move them, only do so the minimum amount required to resolve the issue. Don’t cut or remove the rope. Doing so risks moving them; just leave it there unless it is impacting breathing or blood flow.
• Call 911. If there are others present, point to a specific person and, using a commanding voice, say, “You! Call 911” (or other local emergency number). This allows you to take the next actions while they deal with the call.
• Check to see if they are responsive and breathing.
• If they are not breathing, begin CPR if you are trained.
• If the person becomes responsive, try to keep the person from moving. Tell them that help is on its way. Talk to them to help keep them calm.