Whatever else you may decide to do, one
thing that many victims of domestic violence
find helpful is making a safety plan. You
can make one yourself or you can call your
local domestic violence program and ask them
to help you think through a plan.
If you
decide to write out a safety plan, be sure to
keep it in a place where your partner can't
find it.
Safety plans can be made for a
variety of different situations - for dealing
with an emergency such as when a physical
assault occurs, for continuing to live with a
partner who has been abusive, for continuing
to date a partner who has been abusive, or
for protecting yourself after you have ended
a relationship with an abusive partner.
Whether you are with your partner or have
ended the relationship, whether or not you
have used the court system whether or not you
have ever called the police, there are
certain things that are helpful to consider
in planning for your future safety.
ASK YOURSELF THIS
Where can I keep important phone numbers
(police, hotline, friends, shelter) for
yourself and your children?
Is there anyone I can ask to call the police
it they hear suspicious noises coming from my
house or apartment?
If I need to get out of my house or apartment
in a hurry, what door, window, elevator or
stairwell will I be able to use in order to
get out safely?
If I need a place to stay for a while, where
can I go? Can I arrange to stay with family
or friends in a crisis?
Do I know how to
contact the local domestic violence program
in order to arrange for emergency shelter?
Where can I keep your purse, car keys and
some change to make a phone call so that I
can grab them quickly?
Does my children know how to use the
telephone to contact the police?
Is there a code word I can use with friends,
family and/or my children to alert them to
call for help?
Can I keep some money, some changes of
clothes and important papers hidden somewhere
my partner doesn't know about, but that I can
get to quickly?
Can I keep the "escape
bag" with a neighbor or in the trunk of the
car?
If you think you and your partner are about
to have an argument, how can you get to a
room where there are fewer things that can be
used as weapons? How can you avoid getting
trapped in the kitchen, bathroom, basement or
garage?
You need to be prepared! Take this list, and
prepare yourself, and your
Children!
STOP THE ABUSE !
!
