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I would like to take this time to
discuss an important topic as related to our investigation duties in the
field. Obviously being a firefighter and safety advocate there, I will
draw a lot of comparisons to the fire service.
We as investigators of
paranormal activity have quite a few responsibilities. The first and
foremost responsibility of each and every member is safety. Much like
the fire service, our safety as “responders” is vital. We are each
individually responsible for our own safety as well as the safety of the
team we are working with. Many of the same safety concerns that exist in
the fire service also exist in our activities as paranormal
investigators.
Simple things like driving
to and from investigations can often be overlooked. Some of the
locations that are investigated require long driving times and distances
over many different roadways. Seat belts are always to be worn during
these times. Drivers of vehicles being used for investigator transport
shall follow the rules of the road, remember we are all representing the
group when on an investigation. No one shall drive impaired. This
includes being too tired! Always have maps of the area as well as change
for payphones and have those cell phones handy.
The one pet peeve I have
in the fire service is those individuals that feel that they are special
and do not need to follow instructions and go off and do their own
thing. We call these people the “freelancers”. This is not to be
tolerated on the fire ground and will not be tolerated on an
investigation. We operate in the fire service as teams, and never go it
alone. Investigators should never investigate by themselves. Having
someone with you provides many benefits. First, it is safe! If you get
hurt, the other person gets help! Second is liability. If something is
reported missing or broken by a client, its better to have two people to
together that can back each other up. Third is if you find any evidence!
It’s far better to have more than one investigator experience the same
thing!
This leads us into the
next topic of accountability. This is a huge safety factor on the fire
ground! Knowing where everyone is at all times. All investigators shall
report into the “Command Post” for assignment. The Team Leader or
designee will assign teams to certain areas and log it. It is important
to stay with your assigned teams in the location you are assigned to
investigate. This is not only a safety issue but important when we are
reviewing evidence, if noises are heard and no one is logged in that
location, it gives more support to the evidence. Remember to stay with
your team, if one member needs to leave the area, they should never
leave alone, and remember to relay this information to the Command Post.
Tunnel vision is another
one of my favorites in my full time job as a firefighter. You got to
love the people that can only seem to focus on one thing at a time and
not look at the big picture. It would be great to see a full bodied
apparition and to catch it on video, but running after it and not
noticing the big hole in the floor doesn’t help anyone. Pay attention!
Use all of your senses at all times.
How about those pesky slips, trips, and falls. Most
of these incidents can be avoided by simply slowing down. Know your
environment. If its winter, expect ice, if in an attic, expect trip
hazards, low ceilings, etc. When investigating sites always check the
area out with lights on before getting into it. This is just like our
fire service pre-plans. Find your hazards and mentally note them. If an
area is deemed hazardous, don’t go there! Remember, we are here to find
ghosts, not become one!
We must remember that no
matter how safe we try to be, we will have accidents, that’s why we call
them accidents. Some are hard to control, take a bee sting from an
unseen nest for example. If a mishap occurs we then need to focus on
helping. Our group is fortunate to be made up primarily of emergency
responders. I recommend that all groups be trained to handle basic
emergencies including first aid and CPR. Be prepared and have a basic
emergency first aid kit with the team.
I have designed a
powerpoint presentation on the subject which I will post on the site.
Be Safe!
You hear me say this a lot!
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