Taking a spooky adventure during the Halloween season can be a great way to get some thrills. While some people may opt for scary movies or haunted houses, ghost-hunting is also a popular pastime during the fall months.
If you’re planning to head out in search of some paranormal activity, be sure to take precautions so you can have a fun and safe adventure. Researching your locations, being aware of Halloween driving dangers, and getting prepared can help you avoid harm’s way while searching for spirits.
#1 – Bring a Few Friends on Your Adventure
Going ghost-hunting alone might up your fear factor, but it’s often unwise not to bring along some companions for this type of adventure. Going solo in your quest to find apparitions can have dangerous consequences.
To find spirits, you may travel to locations you’re unfamiliar with. Driving roads you don’t know well and walking around areas you’ve never been can easily result in getting lost. When you have a friend or two along for the ride, you not only up your chances of not getting lost, but you also find safety in numbers.
You might run the risk of getting injured while on your excursion if you travel alone. Walking in the dark could pose threats like twisted ankles or sprains. If you’re by yourself, no one will be able to help you if you’re hurt. Bringing friends along can ensure you stay safe while out looking for spirits, so it’s like you’re having a vacation with friends at the same time.
#2 – Research Your Location Before Going
Before you leave for your ghost-hunting adventure, it’s essential to do your research. You’ll want to learn all you can about the location you plan to explore.
Information like whether or not the area is private property is important to know beforehand. You don’t want to trespass on someone’s land and potentially risk getting in trouble with law enforcement.
If you find a location that someone owns but are determined to ghost hunt there, you can ask the owner for permission. There’s no guarantee they will grant you access to their property, but if they do, it allows you to explore the location without risking legal consequences.
Researching how you’ll get to your location is also crucial. If you’re driving with friends, you’ll want to determine who is driving and who is in charge of navigation so you can arrive at your destination safely. It’s often easier to have one person drive while another navigates so that the driver can give their full attention to the road rather than maps or phones.
Halloween can be a dangerous time to drive, with risks like more pedestrians on the roads, so it’s important to stay alert while behind the wheel. Whether you or a companion is driving, staying cautious can help avoid any potential crashes. Don’t forget to check your vehicle before you embark on your hunt. This includes engine change oil, to make sure that your car will not let you down in the middle of your adventure.
#3 – Scout Your Intended Area During the Day
If the location you want to ghost hunt is a reasonable distance away, try to check it out during the daylight hours. The scare factor you’re looking for may be lower, but it allows you to get a feel for the area.
In the daytime, you can look for any potential hazards like tree roots, fencing, and debris that may cause problems at night. Even with a flashlight, it can be hard to spot everything in the dark.
Making mental notes of any potential issues during the day can keep you safer when you return to the area once night falls. If you worry you might not remember, you can also draw a map of the location to look out for hazards easily.
#4 – Prepare With Proper Supplies
There’s no set list of items you’ll need to bring with you on a ghost hunt, but some could prove helpful. Having a flashlight and extra batteries will be essential to your excursion.
Since you’ll likely search for spirits in the dark, you’ll want some light to navigate your path. Bringing a flashlight can be more reliable than using your cellphone, as they are easier to hold, last longer, and typically cast a larger span of illumination. Bringing extra batteries along also ensures you won’t run out of light while ghost-hunting.
Some other important items you should consider packing in your bag are a camera, first aid kit, and tape recorders. All these items can come in handy during your hunt.
Cameras and tape recorders can help you capture images or sounds made by ghosts during your exploration. Often, spirits are around without being seen or heard, so using these tools can help you look back on interactions you may have missed.
First aid kits are also essential if you’re injured during your hunt. Bandages, wraps, and tape can all be handy to cover injuries or slow bleeding.
#5 – Leave Your Location the Same When You’ve Finished
You may have plenty of fun hunting for ghosts, but you should be mindful of the area you’re exploring. The old saying of leaving things how you found them also applies to haunted locations.
Avoid leaving trash around, disturbing too many items, or vandalizing the property. You may not be the only people hoping to see some spirits in the area, so give others a chance to investigate in the same conditions.
You also risk legal action if the location you’re searching is owned by someone who gave you permission to explore. If you cause damage to their property, they could take you to court over the destruction.
Most often, these claims end up in small claims court. However, if you cause severe damage, the owner could take more extensive legal action. It’s best to keep the property as it was to avoid getting involved in a legal battle.
Ghost-Hunting the Fun and Safe Way
During Halloween, many people look for some scary thrills to celebrate the season. Ghost-hunting is a common choice for those looking to really get in the spirit.
If you’re planning to search for paranormal activity, be sure to follow these tips to ensure your experience is not only fun but also safe. Bring friends along for your adventure, drive safely, research your location ahead of time, bring the right supplies, and leave the area the same as you found it.
After these suggestions, you’re ready to explore all the ghost-hunting locations you can find.
Alexandra Arcand writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsurance.org. She is a Halloween enthusiast who enjoys sharing ways others can have a fun and safe ghost-hunting experience.
