Spanking PSA: Safety First. And Second. And Third.

Readers,


It is impossible to say too much about safety, so..


Some of my playmates are twenty-plus year players, and some have trusted me with their first ever adult spankings. I am fortunate to play often, and with an amazingly diverse group of wonderful people. The one thing which all of my lovely spanking partners share is my concern for their well-being, both on and off the lap. That concern naturally extends to the entire community when it comes to personal safety during spanking play.


I know that many of us are well-versed on the do’s and dont’s of spanking safety, but I see nothing wrong with reiterating what may be, to some, new information. Can we touch on a few things, just in case?


The Cleaning of the Implements (also known as Common Sense)


Whether you play with one partner or many, it is absolutely imperative to clean those toys after each and every use. Buy yourself a bottle of Sporicidin (hospital-grade disinfectant) or fill a spray bottle with alcohol and take a minute to insure that it’s done properly by doing it yourself.
If you’re a party, group, or pro player this is even more important. Don’t be afraid to ask that your play partner clean their paddle, cane, or other implement before it is used on your body. If they’re offended, then politely thank them for their time, and then go and find yourself someone who’s as concerned about safety as you are. A quick scan of the internet will educate you quite quickly on the dangers of coming in contact with the germs and fluids of others. Which leads me to:


The Breaking of the Skin (and the Copious Seeping of the Plasma through the Pores)


Unless you are specifically interested in bloodletting and semi-permanent physical damage, there is absolutely, unequivocally, no reason to experience broken skin or seeping, even during the course of a very hard spanking (yes, this includes heavy wood paddles and canes, too). Strawberries, spots, and bruises are natural, especially if you’ve not achieved a high level of conditioning, but skin-breaking most certainly is not a necessary part of spanking activity.


It is possible to cause thinning of the dermis, through repeated breaks, which will cause the skin to be unable to properly repair itself, leaving you with an area which won’t fully recover no matter how long you go between spankings. You don’t want to render yourself unable to play in the future, do you? 
I didn’t think so.
Plasma seepage occurs when the body rushes cells to the assaulted area in an effort to repair the damage that’s been done, and to try and prevent more. This happens with repeated intense impacts, or when the top layer(s) of skin are removed, usually from dense wood implements, or rough-surfaced ones, like sandpaper paddles.


*Note: I am not condemning heavy play, nor am I suggesting that the Breaking of the Skin should never occur. I do, on occasion, take part in heavy punishment scenes in which there is dermal damage – and I do believe that it occasionally contains merit (so does spraying a bit of 90% isopropyl alcohol on a freshly-caned bottom). 


I simply believe that everyone involved should be as careful and responsible as possible on these occasions – and that we should all remember that a great spanking isn’t determined by it’s severity.


The Drawing of the Lines ( i.e. “What the hell are you doing back there?!”)


It is common knowledge among my playmates that I do not allow the use of safe words during play. As I consider spanking a completely consensual act, I see no reason to employ them. If my bottom is feeling particularly physically compromised – either from pain, position, or preoccupation – they are instructed to verbalize this to me directly.
While they consent to submitting to physical discipline, I consent to stop immediately if they achieve a level of sensation which they find truly offensive, and not merely painful.


Whether or not safe words are used, both players’ wishes should be observed and respected at all times. Naturally, the best way to achieve this is to discuss both your expectations and clearly state your limits beforehand. If at any time either spanker or spankee feels as though his or her wishes are not being respected, play should stop immediately. While this seems perfectly rational, I have written previously about the numbers of us who’ve allowed a scene to go too far in the wrong direction…proof that sometimes we overlook ourselves in the effort to not offend.




The spanking community are so very supportive and caring of one another, and I know that there are numerous safety considerations, cleaning techniques, and tips which I have not covered here. Please take a moment to share some of your Safe Spanko Wisdom with other readers in the comment box below.


Play safe, and have fun.


– Dana




P.S. Happy holidays!