Natural and Man-made Hazards: Many locations where paranormal activity take place are very old, run down buildings. Some locations are outdoors. Dangers lurk in both places.
First and foremost - never go anywhere alone! Always have at least one other person with you. There is safety in numbers. If you run into any trouble it is always best to have someone else there with you to help. Also, if you experience anything, you will have a witness to back up your story.
Never trespass! Always get permission from the property owner to access a location. Trespassing will not only get you in trouble with the law, but also can give all paranormal investigators a bad name. Always carry photo ID with you. If you are stopped, show your ID immediately. If asked to leave a property do so immediately.
Paranormal investigating is, more often than not, done in complete darkness. Most old buildings have many safety hazards. When investigating in old, faulty buildings be aware of your surroundings. Always walk through with the lights on first and make note of any potential danger areas to warn your group about. Termites and wood rot can destroy steps and ladders while sometimes these steps may not even look dangerous on the outside. Broken glass, metal scraps, etc. may be in the location.
A lot of old buildings also contain hazardous chemicals like asbestos and lead. These are just a few issues that could arise investigating inside an old building.
Outdoor investigations offer more obstacles as well. Try to research what kinds of wild animals inhabit the area. ( We were actually warned about a mountain lion roaming about at one location!)
Again, be aware of your surroundings and a walk through during daylight hours is highly recommended. Gravestones make easy tripping hazards in the darkness.
We suggest your group keep a first aid kit on hand for minor emergencies.
Paranormal Hazards: Obviously, most of this information is not proven fact considering the paranormal field as a whole is built around gathering evidence to prove what is considered fiction to be fact.
Spirits, both good and bad, can take an interest in us and follow us around. When you investigate a location you should always try to be polite when attempting to make contact. We have found that a simple "Please" and "Thank You" can result in a response when nothing else has.
Harsh Provoking makes absolutely no sense. Obviously, no good can come from angering an entity, so why do it? Simply to obtain an EVP? Think of spirits as people since most of them once were. How would you react if someone came into your home and started cursing at you? Always take the property owners well-being into consideration. Don't do anything that might cause them to have negative activity after you have left and gone home.
Some spirits may not even know they have passed, it is recommended by most experts to speak to them in the present tense. We usually start out this way and work towards what caused their deaths. Often it is at that point that we get a response.
A few other things to take into consideration. Negative spirits like negative people, can and will lie to you. When communicating with a spirit always remember they very well could be the opposite of what they say they are.
Never offer for a spirit to "use your energy", never offer for a spirit to follow you anywhere. If you offer "help" to a spirit do so with caution. We recommend never using Ouija boards or doing seances, not only because it can not be taken as serious evidence scientifically, this can lead to negative activity.
The intent of this page is not to frighten people. It is an informative page to educate those who need to get the entire story. Please be aware and protect yourself.
One last note: Please be responsible during & after your investigation and make sure you don't leave any remnants of your presence behind. Be sure to remove any old batteries, drink containers or other trash. Do a walk through of the location and remember to return anything that might have been moved to it's proper place. Pick up any litter and take it with you when you leave. This is not only environmentally responsible, but it leaves the location in good condition for the property owner and any future paranormal investigators.
This page was written by OPES and may not be copied or reprinted without consent of the author. Copyright, 2008.