Ghost Hunting Basics: Preparing for the Investigation- Safety

Greetings everyone! 

As many of you already know, I am a paranormal investigator and the author of several books on the subject. Chances are you are reading my blog because you have read one of my books or because you are simply interested in learning more about the paranormal. Perhaps you are even interested in doing a little ghost hunting yourself. If that is the case, I highly recommend that you subscribe to the blog or check back often because I will be doing several posts on ghost hunting. I hope to cover the basics in a bit more detail than I have seen in most of the articles I have read. So if you are looking for good, quality information this is the place to be!

Preparing for Your First Ghost Hunt In Terms of Safety

This first blog post is about preparing you and your team for your very first ghost hunt, and creating and implementing safety procedures.  Before you go venture out on your own, I highly recommend contacting a local paranormal investigator or team and seeing if you can tag along on one of their hunts. I can’t stress how vital it is to have someone with you and if that person has some experience, even better. Never conduct this type of investigation alone. There are too many ways that you could get hurt. Paranormal investigations are typically conducted at night and in total darkness, which really increases the chances that you could fall or bump into something and sustain an injury. There is also the possibility of getting lost or stranded and you definitely do not want to be alone if this happens. That being said let’s talk about the first preparation step which is establishing safety protocols. 

Safety Protocols

1.)    Never hunt alone. If your team splits up, keep at least two people together at all times.

2.)    Keep a first aid kit handy. Part of the initial preparation for new investigators is learning some very basic first aid. This includes how to dress a wound, how to apply pressure to stop bleeding, how to correctly read dosing information on medicines, how to treat burns and eye injuries and ideally at least one person on the team should be CPR certified.

3.)    All investigators should make the team aware of any medical conditions they may have and ensure that proper medication or supplies are available if needed. For example if you have asthma, you need to have a backup inhaler and the team needs to be aware of this condition. The same goes for heart conditions, allergies, seizures and generally any condition that may require assistance or that may be triggered by fear. Let’s face it most people are a bit scared their first time out and anything that startles you can get the best of us from time to time as well.

4.)    Create an emergency game plan. Having an idea of what to do if something goes wrong is a good idea before you begin an investigation. When you are planning to visit a property, have a designated meeting area in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important if you are investigating older properties to could have structural damage, rotted wood, poor support etc. Chances are if everyone knows where to do go and what to do, nothing will ever happen. If it does then everyone should be able to get to safety right away.

5.)    Having a safety plan for injuries and emergencies is crucial but do not forget to put in a safety plan for dealing with negative spirits or for handling disturbing feelings. Even if the spirits you are dealing with are not harmful, it is easy to develop feelings of fear or dread, particularly if you are new to ghost hunting. This can lead to panic attacks, hyperventilation and a whole range of physiological and psychological responses. So have a plan for handling this if it happens. Generally speaking if you are feeling too uneasy or that you are in danger, get out of there and say a prayer or a cleansing to prevent the spirits from following you. (A later blog post will give detailed instructions on how to do this from a wide range of perspectives.) If at any time a team member feels like they cannot breathe or they are being choked or hurt in any way, that person needs to exit the area. This does not happen often, but it can happen and you team needs to be prepared.

6.)    Have the numbers of local authorities in a cell phone or address book. Besides the obvious 911, you need to have certain numbers handy just in case. This includes the non-emergency police number of the area, animal control (or better yet local rescue centers that cater prevent animals from being put down), the property owner’s number or caretaker’s number and at least one emergency contact for each member of your team. This way if you encounter a stray animal, an intruder or someone has accident you can contact someone directly from the field. It is also important to be able to reach the property owners in case of accidental property damage or if you notice a safety hazard. It may also come in handy if someone calls the police to report people walking around in an abandoned building with flashlights. It does happen and being able to contact the owners and prove that you have the permission to be there can save you and the police a whole lot of hassle.

So those are the basics of safety in ghost hunting. Please don’t overlook the importance of being prepared for an emergency situation or an unfriendly spirit. Taking the time to make sure that everyone on the team knows what to do and how to handle potentially bad situations can literally mean the difference between life and death or it can prevent a major injury. Be safe, stay calm and approach your investigations with integrity and respect for your team, the property and the spirits involved.