Fortunately, mummification is a relatively safe "sport" as long as you use common sense. There are a few subtle things of which you need to be aware, however...

A hands-behind-the-head pose is a challenge to wrap, but it's very comfortable for the mummy.

Keep Bandage Scissors Handy - You never know when someone might have a panic attack, cramp, or some other unexpected problem that demands quick release. Bandage scissors (safety scissors, EMT shears) have one blunt end that slips under the wrap material and reduces the chance of cutting the submissive. These are really handy to have around, and are inexpensive enough that you should have a pair anyway, for other scenes. They can be purchased at many drug stores and all medical supply houses. Make sure you know where yours are before you begin to wrap.

Don't Get Carried Away - You probably need to wrap more lightly than you think. A little bit of tension isn't bad, but when it's over the entire body, it adds up... especially with multiple layers. Plus, cramps can come on without warning if you overdo it. You can of course wrap very tightly and turn mummification into a "torture" scene -- and some submissives love that. But make sure that's what they want, and be prepared for the scene to be a short one. If you want to admire your work for a while -- and let your mummy "float away" in bondage -- then take it easy on how much and how tightly you wrap.

Don't Obstruct Breathing - This seems obvious, but there are several points to note. Wrapping the entire head with non-breathable material like electrical tape -- leaving only nostril holes -- is an intense scene... but it's not good for someone with sinus problems if their nasal passages suddenly lock up! If you wrap the head tightly, your mummy may not be able to open his or her mouth even if you don't cover it, so be aware of how tightly you wrap under the jaw.

Take care not to restrict breathing when wrapping the chest and abdomen. If you're working with something like duct tape that doesn't stretch, make sure your subject can take a full, deep breath. If you're using plastic wrap, don't get carried away: Yes, plastic stretches... but multiple layers can exert as much pressure as a tightly laced corset. Remember: if you push too close to the edge, you may cause a panic attack.

Don't Play with Fire! - Plastic wrap, electrical tape, and so on are flammable petroleum-based products. Smoking, playing with candles, or using a Violet Wand near your mummy means a risk of fire. I think you can imagine what would happen if a plastic-wrapped submissive caught on fire. Given how badly things could go wrong... is it worth the risk?

Support your Mummy - Once you have the arms and legs wrapped, your mummy will have no way to balance, and the slightest nudge can tip him or her over. This may be a mummy's greatest fear! It's vital that you support your mummy at all times and make sure there is no danger of falling.

Most references will tell you it takes two people to do a mummy wrap: one to perform the actual work, and the other as a "spotter" to support the mummy. In fact it can be a one person job -- and I'll show you how -- but it's definitely easier and safer with two. If you must lower your mummy to a prone position after wrapping, be sure to carefully support the head and neck on the way down.

Watch Out For Dehydration - This isn't an issue for all mummification scenes. But if you'll be keeping your mummy wrapped in a non-breathing material for many hours, you'll want to supply fluids to the submissive as time goes on (and, needless to say, feed the water carefully to avoid choking). It might not be a bad idea to have him or her drink a glass of water just before you start, as well. And common sense dictates you not try plastic-wrap mummification outside in 90° temperatures!

Toxic Wrap?

It's been pointed out that plastic is a petrochemical and a lot of different chemicals and compounds are used in its manufacture. Some have said that highly toxic chemicals like arsenic are used, and that by wrapping a person those poisons could leach out and be absorbed by the skin.

While mummification isn't the intended purpose of pallet wrap, it's certainly handled in large quantities by industrial workers around the world, and organizations like OSHA and the FDA keep a close eye on health concerns. Because of this, I question how much of a risk there might be. Still, it wouldn't be a bad idea to request a material safety data sheet on the brand of pallet wrap you're going to use, just to make sure. If you have concerns, restrict yourself to wraps intended for food processing; these are very highly regulated.

The Incredible Breathing Skin

One caution you'll hear from time to time is that you have to leave a patch of skin uncovered or your mummy will suffocate. Supposedly, the body must breath through the skin as well as the nose or mouth, and sealing off the skin is courting asphyxiation.

Well, I know several latex fetishists who quite happily spend hours inside skin-tight latex catsuits and full-face hoods, leaving no part of their bodies exposed. A friend and I practically did this ourselves the year we went to a Halloween party dressed as Batman and Catwoman. I was a bit sweaty by the time the many-hours-long evening was over, but none the worse for wear... and my partner in crime survived quite nicely, as well. For that matter, none of the submissives I've mummified for hours on end have had any problems, despite being completely sealed in plastic wrap and duct tape.

The belief in "skin breathing" was a common one in the 1960s, when the plot of Goldfinger included a girl being painted gold and thusly murdered. That belief may have been spurred by the 1946 movie Bedlam, which included a murder of identical modus operandi. But in recent years this belief has been debunked by several sources. Cecil Adams, author of The Straight Dope says, "Science -- or at least the popular understanding of it -- has made mighty strides since those early years, and it is now known that you do not breathe through your skin. You breathe through your mouth and nose. So much for the asphyxiation theory."

So, while it does pay to be cautious, you needn't leave an area of skin uncovered at the base of the spine, which is often suggested.

That's it for safety. In the next installment we'll look at wrapping techniques.

For more safety tips and general information on mummification, read Speerhead's Mummification DOs and DON'Ts.

The full "skin breathing" quote from The Straight Dope is available on the Web and makes entertaining reading.

The "skin breathing" theory is also debunked at The San Fernando Valley Folklore Society's Urban Legends Reference Pages.

A very large "Thank You!" to David Emery, About.com's Urban Legends Guide, for his research on the "skin breathing" issue. David's site is the first place you should go if you want to know, "Is this for real?"

The Mummification Series

Mummification 101: It's a Wrap: Introductory Mummification

Mummification 102: Mummification Safety

Mummification 103: Basic Plastic-Wrap Mummification Techniques

Mummification 104: Basic Duct Tape Mummification Techniques