Binders and breathing issues

[NameChangeinHaste]

This week in school I witnessed one of our NB female students, who also happens to have asthma, have an awful attack of shortness of breath. I can’t say if it was an asthma attack, though they did have their inhaler.
It only struck me last night that they may be wearing a binder, which will likely have exacerbated the attack.
I need to send an email to Head of Year, gently suggesting that if they are wearing one they may be linked.
Turns out we’re fully signed up to Stonewall, so dinners to tread carefully, though many colleagues are aware of my thoughts.
Does anyone know of only good links outlining the link between binding and breathing difficulties that I could attach to me email?
Many thanks.

Dinners = do need..,

This binder selling company - actually, I'm not going to link to them, because I think it's abhorrent selling things that are dangerous to young girls.

But their advice on exercise is:

• If you are apprehensive, or if you have extenuating health conditions, we strongly recommend checking in with your doctor before binding during exercise.

• Know your limits and take it easy. Go slowly with exercise intensity and take baby steps if you’re worried; everybody is different. It is important to take the binder off/cease the activity if you notice any sort of pain or discomfort.

• Wearing a size up from your regular fit as it is important not to bind too tightly while exercising. Be sure to stretch and breathe, and follow healthy binding etiquette.

This study relates to adults:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27300085/

I can't access the full text, unfortunately. Worth noting commercial binders are associated with far more risks than other methods.

' Over 97% reported at least one of 28 negative outcomes attributed to binding. Frequency (days/week) was consistently associated with negative outcomes (22/28 outcomes). Compression methods associated with symptoms were commercial binders (20/28), elastic bandages (14/28) and duct tape or plastic wrap (13/28). Larger chest size was primarily associated with dermatological problems. Binding is a frequent activity for many transmasculine individuals, despite associated symptoms. '

www.starobserver.com.au/news/international-news-news/landmark-chest-binding-study-reveals-medical-risks/155457

'

I would suggest that pastoral care check in with the NB person to ensure they are safely binding and know that due to having asthma they should also never exercise in a binder.
www.moms.com/chest-binder-trans-teen/

I despair. This is like trying to advise Victorian women on the dangers of tight lacing corsets.
How have we gone so far backwards? How do young women think that crushing their bodies until they cannot even breathe or exercise normally, is a sane choice?
And why is it only women who have to damage their physical health and bodies in order to be trans?
When men only have to utter the magic words “I am a woman”, and self identification follows immediately with an access all areas pass? No need to even shave their beard? Why can’t a girl simply say she has man breasts, equivalent to a lady penis?

www.transgendertrend.com/breast-binders-in-uk-schools/

@Babdoc
It’s called body dysmorphia.

ArabellaScott I can't access the full text, unfortunately. Worth noting commercial binders are associated with far more risks than other methods.

Full text (pdf) cabinradio.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Health-impact-of-chest-binding-among-transgender-adults-a-community-engaged-cross-sectional-study.pdf

[quote PlanDeRaccordement]I would suggest that pastoral care check in with the NB person to ensure they are safely binding and know that due to having asthma they should also never exercise in a binder.
www.moms.com/chest-binder-trans-teen/[/quote]
This makes me uncomfortable. Putting the responsibility on the school to ensure a teen with asthma binds their chest safely makes the school very vulnerable to legal action should anything happen.

Anyone with asthma will know just how dangerous restricting the chest is

Can I just ask what you mean by ‘fully signed up to Stonewall’?

This makes me so sad.

(As in how does it impact/what is the culture in terms of being able to have open discussion etc)

[quote PlanDeRaccordement]I would suggest that pastoral care check in with the NB person to ensure they are safely binding and know that due to having asthma they should also never exercise in a binder.
www.moms.com/chest-binder-trans-teen/[/quote]
Would you also suggest that they should check that a child who was cutting themself was doing so 'safely' by only using clean blades and not cutting too deep?

A child who is so distressed by their body that they are self harming needs urgent help with their mental health, not advice on how to self harm 'safely'.

This is all very helpful, thank you.
I’ll be having the conversation tomorrow.
I feel so sad for so many of our girls, since lockdown we have so many who now tell us they are non-binary.

Yes, agree with pps that if it were me I would be referring said child/YP to medical and mental health professionals as their health may be in danger, whether or not they are exercising. A binder with asthma seems highly unsafe.

Is said child's parent/guardian aware of how they are endangering themself?

Chest binding isn’t self harm if done properly and safely.
Just like corset wearing isn’t self harm if you’re not tight lacing.

I don’t think having a chat with a teen about chest binding safety is making the school responsible. After all you have SRE that covers safety in relationships and safe sex...that doesn’t make the school vulnerable to legal action if a teen catches an STI. This is no different. It’s providing information to the teen.

And I would assume that having asthma somehow magically imbues teens with the knowledge of safe chest binding.

*would not assume

I thought this article was quite good and it is from a LGB and T organisation so will go well with the Transgender Trend one linked to up thread.
Important to point out that all the studies are done on adults not children. Definitely needs a risk assessment or school saying they shouldn't use them on school premises!
helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/chest-binding-tips-and-tricks-for-trans-men-nonbinary-and-genderfluid

Is this chat appropriate without also informing the parents?

I don’t think having a chat with a teen about chest binding safety is making the school responsible.

Is this thought grounded in anything relevant to the topic? Is safeguarding related to work/voluntary officer responsibilities? Is this the considered view of, perhaps, a respiratory specialist or a consultant in liability law or someone who drafts education policy?

Ordinarily I'd never speculate but it feels important when discussing the potential for harming the health of children.

Chest binding isn’t self harm if done properly and safely.

From the paper linked earlier in the thread.

Over 97% reported at least one of 28 negative outcomes attributed to binding.

Full text here.

cabinradio.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Health-impact-of-chest-binding-among-transgender-adults-a-community-engaged-cross-sectional-study.pdf

Does it matter if it's classed as 'self harm' when it's very clear it causes harm and is potentially dangerous?

@TimeToDateAgain
No, I’m not any of those things. Odd that you’d require someone to be a specialist to comment. There is a big disclaimer on mums net saying we are all just expressing our opinions.

Posters who are not gynaecologists advise mums with teens that have heavy/painful periods to put them on the pill despite the fact there are risks to the child’s health from the pill. Other posters have advised on what to do with a teen that is vaping...or s child doing PE with a broken hand in a cast....they’re not doctors either. All sorts of safety information is shared on many subjects.

No one pulls them up and asks if they are medical doctors or liability solicitors. So why on this thread?

There seems to be an anti-NB vibe on this thread.

There seems to be an anti-NB vibe on this thread.

You're mistaking concern about teenage girls harming themselves for 'anti-NB'.

If grown men can be 'women with penises', why can't teenage girls who want to be non-binary be non-binary with breasts?

[quote OldCrone]Chest binding isn’t self harm if done properly and safely.

From the paper linked earlier in the thread.

Over 97% reported at least one of 28 negative outcomes attributed to binding.

Full text here.

cabinradio.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Health-impact-of-chest-binding-among-transgender-adults-a-community-engaged-cross-sectional-study.pdf[/quote]
The study concludes as follows:
“While this study suggests that there are many negative health outcomes associated with chest binding, health providers should avoid making categorical recommendations against binding due to its positive effects on mental health and quality of life. Instead, clinicians might usefully work with patients to understand their motivations for binding, to minimise risk and to empower patients with the most current research to make informed decisions about binding that support all aspects of their physical and mental health.”

No, I’m not any of those things. Odd that you’d require someone to be a specialist to comment.

It more seems that some posters are very certain about matters that harm children (like, perhaps, considering the opinion of someone who has no background in safeguarding, child health, education policy etc.).

We differ on whether being concerned with safeguarding, child health or education policy should be construed as "anti-NB".