Recently I noticed a man named Shane Harris on facebook posting about the dangers of the paranormal. Specifically, he wanted to warn people that there are risks associated with inhaling things from the environment and becoming sick. This is his posting on facebook
WHY WE SHOULD WEAR A MASK WHEN INVESTIGATING
My wife Sara Harris is in UNC Chapel Hill Hospital…We are Paranormal Investigators and we need your prayers…She has been in the hospital for 24 days now…She now has been placed on an ECMO lung bypass machine because she has a infection from something she inhaled. We were doing an investigation at an house that had bats and rodent droppings…I believe that we stirred the air up and she inhaled something and infected her lungs to the point that she almost died…She now is on day 7 of the ECMO machine and has many many more days to go…She now has a 70% chance of living, but we won’t know until about day 10 . I am reaching out to the paranormal community for prayers and also so you can protect yourself against the things we can’t see that are living and breathing in the air. Please be careful, as i dont want this to happen to you…I update my face book page daily with her condition. I love my wife with all my heart… I was on Darkness Radio last night telling her story and want to know if you would be willing to tell her story also…You can contact me for more info.
Thank you
Shane Harris
When paranormal investigators go out we sometimes encounter mold, bacteria, viruses, wildlife, floors that are crumbling as well as other dangers. Sometimes it is best to wear a mask to protect your lungs. If you suspect any threat to your health you should be wearing a mask if you have to be on the property. His wife had become sick after an investigation were they were in a home that had bats and rodent droppings. This immediately gave me chills because it brought back memories of the hauntavirus.
In 1993 there was an outbreak of hantavirus in the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. The host that carried that virus was found to be deer mice. It all began when a young and physically fit Navajo man began suffering from shortness of breath. He was rushed to a hospital in New Mexico and died very rapidly. When doctors began reviewing his case they found the man’s fiancée had died a few days before after showing the same symptoms. This finding launched a full investigation as to the cause by the New Mexico Office of Medical Investigations.
They went asking for similar cases and found 5 other young people had died with acute respiratory failure. The wheels started spinning faster now. Just think of movie Contagion or Virus. They all had acute respiratory symptoms similar to the flu which included throat irritation, coughing, sneezing, fever, chills, and muscle aches. They developed cough and severe symptoms of the disease about seven days after initial symptoms. Half of them had headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pains. None of them knew they had a hauntavirus. Once the severe symptoms start with this disease it progresses rapidly with hospitalization and ventilation often required within 24 hours. When the outbreak in this case was over there were a total of thirteen people who died.
Hauntaviruses are the agents implicated in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is an acute febrile condition which was recognized after a 1951 outbreak among U.S. troops stationed in Korea. Outbreaks from hauntaviruses have occurred on and off throughout history. Those at risk from acquiring the virus are people who work, live and explore anywhere there are mouse droppings. Those who do urban exploration and paranormal investigators are also at a higher risk as well because they explore vacant buildings many of which contain droppings.
How a person becomes infected with the virus is by what we call inhalation of an aerosol. Rodents shed the virus in their urine, droppings, and saliva. When these droppings are stirred up by sweeping or moving things around, tiny droplets of the virus become airborne. The whole process is called aerosolization. People get the disease when they breathe air that has been contaminated by the virus. Other ways to be exposed are bites from a rodent or touching a surface that is contaminated with the virus and then touching your nose or mouth.
Since 1995 hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has been recognized 102 patients in 21 states of the U.S., 7 in Canada and 3 in Brazil with half of those people dying from the disease. There is no treatment or cure for this disease once it has been identified in a patient. The best hope anyone has is avoiding areas that could potentially have the virus.
If you happen to live in an infested area you want to sanitize your space. You need to get rid of the rodent infestation by trapping. When there is no evidence of infestation you must wait for about 5 days before beginning to clean these areas. The next step is to ventilate the space you are cleaning for at least 30 minutes to allow fresh air to enter by opening the doors and windows and leave the area while airing it out. When you begin to clean it is important that you do not stir up dust by using a vacuuming or sweeping the droppings or nest materials. You must wear rubber gloves and spray the urine and droppings with a disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water and let soak 5 minutes before removing the urine or droppings with a paper towel. 1 part bleach to 10 parts water is the recommendation for the concentration of the bleach solution. Dispose of the waste in the garbage then disinfect anything that might have been contaminated. The next step is to thoroughly clean all the areas and everything within those areas.
I read that Sara Harris passed away from her illness yesterday. My heart is breaking for this family. Here is his post to facebook
Today I lost my wife and best friend…Things will not be same without her…I must now raise a daughter who misses her mommy…But i am happy that she is now with Jesus and i haft to change my lifestyle so i can be with her again…Sara baby I love you with all my heart and soul and you will always be my wife…nobody will ever get that chance…when we got married we both said “til death do we part” well baby i am not dead yet so you don’t need to worry…im a one women man and baby you are all i need and all i will ever have…I will see you again…I love you
There has been no confirmation anywhere yet on the virus or bacteria she was exposed to. I believe everyone who investigates needs to think before they go out. Is this worth your life? If you must go out you need to protect yourself from the environment. There are simple rules you should go by as an investigator. You should always go with another person in case you are injured. Always carry a flashlight and extra batteries with you to see where you are going. You need to pay attention to your environment so you do not get cut, punctured, bit, or fall breaking a bone. If you think there are in an area with rodent droppings wear a mask.
You can read one of my previous blog posts on dangers of urban exploration here http://www.hauntedchef.com/2011/03/22/dangers-of-urban-exploration/
I also did a video that year on the dangers of urban exploration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eGSKemwtaQ&lr=1
November 26th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
I also wanted to share that paranormal insider radio is hosting a show tonight called More Than Spiritual: The Risks of Paranormal Investigating. This is what they have listed for the information:
A few weeks ago, PRS was contacted by Shane Harris, urging all investigators to wear masks while they investigate. As Alex Matsuo talked to Shane over time, PRS learned that Shane’s wife, Sara, was in the hospital after inhaling contaminated air at an investigation. PRS asked for the community to pray for the Harris family. Then, Sara’s story became the inspiration for this Paranormal Insider Radio show.
Sara passed away on 11/25/12.
This show is done in memory of Sara Harris. Join your hosts, Ryan Buell and Alex Matsuo, on Monday, November 26th at 9pm EST as they talk about the physical risks of investigating the paranormal.
Since paranormal investigation television shows have gained popularity, there is a rise of amateur investigators who go into different locations…unaware of the potential health risks that await them. Numerous reports of injuries, sickness, and even death could have been avoided if there were more information out there on staying safe on the physical level. They will listen to your stories, take questions, and explore different ways to stay safe during investigations.
Join the conversation at http://forums.pennstateprs.com
PHONE NUMBER: (347) 324-5969
IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT CALLING IN: Listeners are encouraged to call throughout the show. You may also email your questions and comments before the start of the show to the email address listed below. Please note that calls will be screened.
*In the event that the PRS Forums are down during the show, PRS will utilize the Blog Talk Radio chat room.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/paranormalinsider/2012/11/27/more-than-spiritual-the-risks-of-paranormal-investigating
November 26th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Jill Borter posted this on facebook and I wanted to share here as well
As you share the link for the show, please acknowledge Sara Harris in your posts and tweets (#RIPSaraHarris). This will be a very
important show for *anyone* from those who investigates the paranormal regularly to those who go ghost hunting the rumored haunted house down the street.
Let us continue Shane Harris’ mission to share Sara’s story so that what happened to her doesn’t happen to anyone else. This is a devastating loss to the paranormal research community that can happen to any of us.
And finally, light a candle for Sara and her family tonight.
Rest in Peace, Sara Harris.
November 27th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
I did not know Sara or Shane, though I am associated to a Networking Group on Facebook they are members of as well, as a Security Officer, I have worked in many varied locations in my time and I have seen many interesting things, one of them is a run down old port building that is still partially being used despite it’s clear need to be demolished, but because of the Asbestos concern, they won’t touch the building, and use only the Toilet Facilities located on the ground floor, ironically they moved the kitchen to a portable building and located that next to the building, as thought 5 ft from the wall was going to stop the health concerns.
this example is but one of the badly conditioned places that resembles the locations many of us visit when we try and Ghost Hunt, professionally speaking, as a Security Officer. any time I visit a new site, I assess the site and decide is it safe for me to perform my duties, which often covers the same tasks as a Ghost Hunter, only of course, I would be looking for living tress-passers not spirits. but the role is the same, I walk the grounds and react when I see a positive result…
but I wont perform those roles in conditions that would risk my health, and people should not Ghost Hunt in conditions that would be a risk to theirs,
of course this is easy to say and I mean no disrespect to Sara and Shane, my heart goes out to them both.
We who seek answers from the Paranormal World, need to remember that some locations are abandoned for a very good reason, and when a place is abandon long enough, natures way will take over, and mould, bacteria etc is part of that process, so be safe out there, weak floors are not the only risk you face, and Ghosts are not the only invisible threat we have to deal with..
November 28th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
This is via Shane Harris
I am starting the Sara Harris Foundation and need your help to spread the word I have a paypal account set up for donations, I also have 3M on board to donate masks as soon as i get the tax id number. My paypal account is under saraharrisfoundation@yahoo.com Can you help our cause. The purpose of The Sara Harris Foundation is to get the needed safety items like first aide kits, masks ect. out to the paranormal teams who can’t afford them free of charge. Please help spread the word and anything collected will be going to a good cause. Lets be safe out there as i don’t want this to happen to you. I love you all for your support. Thank You
November 28th, 2012 at 7:02 pm
RAEFORD – Sara Gibson Harris, 36 of Raeford, passed away Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012. She was born Sept. 12, 1976. She was a paranormal investigator. A celebration of Sara’s life will be held Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, at 4 p.m. in Freedom Biker Church, 455 Rockhill Road. She is survived by her husband, Shane; her parents, Larry and Alice Gibson; a son, Justin Gibson; a daughter, Chloe Harris; a brother Joseph Gibson and wife Kimberly; three sisters, Trina Lambert, Shonda Graham Bollinger and Donna Graham Estrada; maternal grandmother, Margaret Shortt; paternal grandmother, Carole Bennett; three nieces; three nephews; aunts, uncles and many, many beloved friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Lung Association at lung.org/donate/ or 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004 or 202-785-3355.
November 30th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
please accept my deepest sympathy on the passing of your wife,partner,best friend and the mother of your children..as I have read..her death will not be in vain. we are taking this news under advisement in our area in the st. louis regional area where our investigations have uncovered several locations similar to that which caused your initial problem and consequently, your ultimate sacrifice…for this reason sir, you have my total respect, and humble condolences..I share the pain you feel because I too lost my wife of almost ten years, back in january of 2009, from cancer. the last 6 months preceeding that were total hell but yes,it makes you stronger..no, the very real heartache does not go away but does, over time, get less intense ..my wife susan, was into the paranormal for some time but we werent doing investigations at first.we watched and studied together for some years and as she became sicker, I was the one who went out and shot video so we, together could examine my footage..then it got to where we were fully involved with the disease,and all that pertained to that,but I recieved a special gift when she passed away, and I hope you,sir , are embelished in the same manner…she has become my liason, my personal connection to the “other side”, and I hope you, sir, with an open heart, can recieve saras’ spirit in the same way, just remember, all you have to do is open your mind to recieving her and trust me, she will respond to you..as all of us in the paranormal field have learned, these entities are spirits,and those family who have gone before us are just that…the next time(when youre ready to do this)you go on an investigation, she will be there in spiritand will be telling you whats going on.. my wife does this and its soo cool to feel her and sense her presence at certain locations I have been..I have been hugged, touched , talked to and yes, sceamed at at different times since her passing, and the coolest part is when she travels, she always brings a family member with her and I get the suprise of feeling them too..at times I hear her on the voice recorder and my emf detector will sound..I have only seen her partial aperition in my house twice, but I smell her perfume, her essence all the time…so, yes, I think sara will be around for quite some time….may your whole family be blessed during this period..her spirit is with you, its just the physical issues to deal with now..one day at a time..I made a memorial video of my wife by going thru all of our photos and separating the ones with her in them and videoing each one in tape format for around 15 seconds each and when that was done,I had a movie almost 45 minutes long, then while coverting it to dvd, I added the songs she used to listen to as well as what I remembered about her..and on occaision I watch this just to remind myself of just how special she was, and still is to me…I play it on an outside monitor on memorial day in the outside flower garden dedicated to her..every time I go out to change the flowers, they are brought back and put in thememorial shrine I have in my front yard..its my way of coping with the loss..but I carry on the investigations in her honor and will continue to do so, and I pray you will too…GOD BLESS YOU, SIR….jerome minks..east alton Ill