Protection Before/During/After Investigations

[GreaserGirl86]

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Admittedly, my investigation methods have been rather elementary, until recently. It started with my friends and I traipsing about abandoned buildings in the dark with bibles and holy water and has evolved into well... this.

I'm planning an investigation at a location where the entitites are known to be "clingy". Most of my investigative experience has come from Pennhurst State School in Pennsylvania, and while I've interacted with several entities (both "good" and "bad") there, I have never felt that they were trying to follow me home. I sometimes get what I call "emotional bruising", where a particularly sad/angry entity will leave me in a funk for a period of time, but nothing has ever followed me home.

I apologize if you read this and think "duh", but while I have been privileged to grow up in a family where the paranormal is accepted as a regular part of every day life, it is still largely regarded as something to be feared, and not meddled with.

So the question is this - how do you protect yourself and your team from "clingy" entities?

[scarygirl67]

The team I was with did what they called a protection circle before and after an investigation. It's very simple really..just the team gathering in a circle with one saying a prayer for a safe investigation, that anyone (or anything) present would know that the intent was respectful and for whatever might be there to stay when the team left. The prayer was repeated at the end of the investigation with all present saying very firmly "Don't follow us home!" I am skeptical of anything following someone home, but I also respect that others have felt this experience. I believe that if nothing else it gives peace of mind. There were also salt packets available for those who chose to put them in their pockets, as salt is believed to protect from anything negative.

In my opinion, the dangers and risks of investigating should also include the real dangers that can come from very explainable means. Asbestos, mold, and other building toxins are issues that all investigators should educate themselves about, especially if it is a team that does a lot of historic or previously abandoned locations. Many old buildings and homes built before 1970 had asbestos in the insulation. Its fire-resistant properties made it popular for use in building structures but it was later discovered that once the fibers start to fall apart and become airborne, the risk for lung cancer and other serious respiratory diseases increased.

While the real danger in asbestos comes from long-term exposure, it is important to note that many older dilapidated structures have friable asbestos which means it is falling out of the walls and ceilings. This is always a concern for health risks. The same is true of mold in the structure that gets disturbed. It is a good idea to wear some type of mask or covering when spending time in these locations, and make sure the area is as ventilated as possible. Better yet, avoid locations that are in need of serious repair. Collapsing floorboards, nails sticking through, feral animals foraging around, and even the possibility of someone hiding there from a break-in are real concerns.

If your team is going to one of these older places, first make sure it has been cleared by the state's chapter of the Environmental Protection Agency for people to be there. Make sure there is a first aid kit on hand for any minor injuries. Visit the location during the day if there is going to be an investigation at night. This way, you and your team will be aware of any structural issues and what spots need to be avoided for safety's sake. And of course, it goes without saying, (but I'll say it anyway) that a team should NEVER go to a location without express written permission from the owner with law enforcement having been contacted prior if the location is otherwise abandoned.

Clients that give cause for concern are another issue that should be addressed. The pre-investigation screening and interviews of the clients should weed out any potential problems, but there is always the possibility of dealing with someone that is mentally unstable. This can lead to problems that are simply annoying to downright dangerous. For this reason, investigators should never be left alone by themselves in any part of the property. This will deter an unbalanced person from trying to accuse the team of theft or inappropriate behavior. There should also be a password that will alert all team members to pack up and leave a location immediately if an emergency situation arises because of a client.

[UglyNRude]

I don't use any protection before investigations. Its up to your beliefs as to what you believe will work for you.

Excellent suggestions from Scary which I will add in many of these older places wear allergy masks. You have old dust, lead paint asbestos, so when you see people say they felt sick after an investigation this can be the cause.

[GreaserGirl86]

Thanks for the advice! I always require anyone I'm with to wear boots, masks, gloves, and sometimes eye protection during investigations into old buildings like Pennhurst.

If anyone is reluctant, I tell them (in great detail) about having metal shards removed from my eye. (I used to work as a mechanic, and even though I was wearing glasses, they weren't appropriate for the work I was doing) I don't have any good stories to justify respiratory protection, but the word "asbestos" is usually enough.

[Haunted Lady]

(03-21-2012 09:57 AM)GreaserGirl86 Wrote:  I don't have any good stories to justify respiratory protection, but the word "asbestos" is usually enough.

...as it should be. Unless of course you have your own show on the Travel Channel, in which case wearing a mask gets in the way of the sound boom for the camera guys so they take them off. The health of the investigators isn't nearly as important as making certain viewers can see their faces and hear what they have to say (note hint of sarcasm).