Safety Tips:
Safety planning involves the act of identifying steps or actions to take to remain safe and reduce the risk of current/future harm.
Safety planning, for many people affected by domestic violence or sexual assault, can be an ongoing process. Those who have experienced or currently are experiencing victimization can take steps by planning for future crisis situations, identifying available options/resources, and creating a plan on how to handle abusive situations.
What to do when someone is hurting you:
People experiencing current abuse should familiarize themselves with safe places in their community or surrounding communities. Safe places could include:
- Local or statewide DV/SA shelter
- Trusted family member, relative, friend, or co-workers’ home,
- Hospital or law enforcement
- Public businesses/parks
Those creating a safety plan should identify a code word or phrase with their children, family, friends, or support network that indicates “escape/get out” or “I need help/I am unsafe”.
- This alerts the person’s support network in a safe manner and greater access to assistance.
Individuals should keep their computer safety in mind by regularly clearing their cache, history, and cookies.
- Individuals could also use a different computer (local library, school, or trusted person’s home).
- Turn off the location settings of any electronic devices or social media accounts.
Reach out to your support network to stay safe and engaging in the healing process.
- Create a list of names and contact details to always carry with you.
- Store in a private place.
Identify reasons for leaving the environments that are believable and have these on hand for a quick escape.
Create ways to feel safer in your home, especially if the abuser is in the home.
- Hang bells or a noise maker on your door to scare the person hurting you away.
- Sleep in public spaces like the living room.
- Keep the doors inside your house locked or put something heavy in front of them.
- If you’re protecting yourself from someone who does not live with you, keep all the doors locked when you’re not using them.
- Install an outside lighting system with motion detectors/security camera system.
- Change the locks if possible.
What to do when someone is stalking you:
Reach out for help when you suspect someone is stalking you. Some steps a person can take include:
- Keep your cell phone charged, nearby, and programmed with emergency contact numbers. (re-label emergency numbers with a different name)
- Memorize numbers if there is no access to a phone.
- Change your routine by taking different routes or modes of transportation.
- Tell someone you trust, the local police, or shelter.
What to do when you leave the person hurting you:
Have an escape bag packed that includes:
- Important documents (birth certificates, driver’s license, passport, social security card, bills, prescription medications, medical records). Include children’s as well.
- Cash and credit cards
- Hide bag in a discrete location.
- If discovered, you can call it a survival kit.
Plan an escape route and safe place to flee to such as a domestic violence shelter, police station, or trusted support person. Your safety plan should also include an identified route, gas for vehicle, and departure times for public transportation.
Keep your support network aware of your circumstances, plan, and prepare them on how to respond to the abuser if they are contacted. All those fleeing an abusive situation are encouraged to go to the police or a local shelter to seek emergency assistance.
