Paranormal Safety

Hello everyone.  With the new year now upon us, so too for many starts a new season of paranormal investigating.  So I felt that with that said, I wanted to start out my first blog of the year as a safety message to everyone.  It's my way of helping you all stay safe this year and not hear (hopefully) about any major injuries or deaths this year.  So let me break down the top ten hazards that we as investigators commonly run into:

· People dangers  – While many clients are of sound mind, others may have some mental disorder. Check out the client prior to showing up for a pre-investigation. A quick Internet search of the address and contact person can sometimes be enlightening. Never go alone to someone’s home, EVER!

· Structural hazards  – There are documented cases of people falling through ceilings of older homes during investigations. Always do a walkthrough in the light and treat all floors as if they could collapse until proven safe. If an area is questionable, mark it off before turning off the lights by stringing painter tape at chest height. 

· Electrical hazards – Every year, hundreds of people are killed in homes by electrocution. If there is a low-hanging wire, test it with a voltmeter before touching. Assume all wires are live until proven otherwise. Metal is an excellent electrical conductor, so be careful around vents and pipes, as well. If a live wire is touching them, then they are likely to carry a charge that can hurt you.

· Electromagnetic fields – Governmental agencies differ on the safe level for EMF exposure including some which believe there is no danger. Others cite problems associated with EMF that includes mental and physical health issues. Safe levels of EMF are hotly debated in the scientific field, so it’s best to err on the side of caution. Some studies concluded if you are entering an area with potentially high EMF, you should limit food intake for four hours before exposure and two hours after as the fields may affect one’s digestive system.  Visit the World Health Organization’s website for more information. http://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/risk_hand/en/index.html.

· Mold  – You can find mold everywhere – both indoors and outside -- but it thrives mostly in damp environments. There are thousands of strains of mold, which are broken down into tens of thousands of sub classes. You can identify mold by its fuzzy appearance, which can be orange, green, black, brown, pink or purple. Most people do not experience any health effects from mold exposure. However, some molds can cause nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, throat irritation, coughing, wheezing to more serious lung infections.

· Mildew  -  There are two main types of mildew. Downy mildew starts as yellow spots, and then the color changes to brown. Powdery mildew is whitish in color and looks like talcum powder. Inhaling mildew can cause coughing, headache, scratchy throat and lung problems. Mildew can also start growing in lungs and cause other serious issues.

· Carbon monoxide  -  Often referred to as a silent killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, gas ranges, and heating systems. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. High levels of CO inhalation can cause loss of consciousness and death.

· Fiberglass insulation – Casual exposure to fiberglass is not a huge concern unless it is being moved or installed. However, in attics and under homes, you should wear a N95 disposable respirator where fiberglass insulation is present to avoid a potential lung infection. 

· Asbestos – Investigating in areas with asbestos is dangerous if it not contained because exposure can cause serious lung damage and cancers.  If asbestos is exposed, don’t investigate. 

If you like these safety tips and want to learn even more on how to keep yourself safe this season, please go to

www.paranormalsafety.com It's a brand new site and has lots of great info.