Rope Safety

Safety is lots of things, from knowledge, preparation and equipments. Safety is also communication and understanding some basic principale about our self and others. Be aware of our surrounding and also the people history doing rope and the history of the equipment we use.

Communication

Being able to tell if something is wrong is very important, communication is not always verbal, sign can be use. To communicate when voice cannot be use, bell or cliker can be also use, or deadhand switch. Before starting a rope scene, when you negotiate, when you include limits and safeword, it’s also the perfect time to level the communication and be sure you agree on the same terms and that word mean the same things for both. Communicating a discomfort is not a signal to stop the scene but can be to ajuste. You can use the light protocol (Red, yellow, green), or the scale 10.

Knowledge

One of the safety principal, is to know what you are doing, know what to do if something go wrong. Know how to make some test for consciousness, nerve compression, blood flow. Going beyond your knowledge can be a risk, but you can also learn to mitigate. Knowledge and experience is 2 differents things, respect both. Having a good knowledge on anatomy, physics and how the gear works is also important. Be able to notice discolouration of the skin to a change of behavior in your partner will be a skill to learn.

Preparation

Prepare your play and the after play (aftercare) , be sure both partner are healthy and ready for this. Test the suspension point and verify your ropes, take a look at your safety equipment. Warm up and stretching if needed. For the aftercare, see what both people need, some time water and a candy, to a warm blanket to some quiet time. Prepare your area, to be safe.

Equipment safety

This is a long list and the why

1. First aid kit, and you have taken first aid class. Many issue can happen from doing ropes, Rope burn, wood shrapnel, to an AVC and cardiac arrest. Having chemical ice pack, is a game changer also. More you have better it is.
2. Rope cutter, safety Shear should be close by for any rope things. Safety hooks is nice but will never has effective has shear.
3. Electrolyte and candy, dehydration and low blood sugar can happen a lots. it’s easy to be prepare for. A simpel Juice, can help for both issue.
4. Flashlight, sometime we play in the dark, can be useful to see or to search for something.
5. Tapes, electrical or ducktape, can be use for many things.
6. Safety Blanket, can be use for many things, from fire to recovery time.

History of your equipment.

Be aware that everything degrade over time, specially organic ropes, like hemp and jute. That was the base for the 5 years lifespan of climbing equipment. Synthetic rope can be heavily damage if left under the sun for to long. If a rope has more then few years, maybe downgrade it to not be a upline. If a Sling, a carabiner got a damage, replace it. Using rope that you do not know the history can be also very dangerous. Element like water and heat can also damage ropes. Friction or bend, always at the same spot will create fatigue or weakness.

History of your partner

Knowing is experience, failure and improvement can be a great time for sharing. Medical and Mental history is also a to good to know. Sharing on past experience, what the person limits and capabilities. This is not about mistake, but how people learn.

Detection

Other link about rope safety

https://crash-restraint.com/ties/1

https://rope365.com/safety