Safety Tips for Victims of Domestic Violence

Safety Tips for Victims of Domestic Violence

Tips to Share with a Victim to Plan for Safety

• Tell your kids that, if there’s violence, their job is to stay safe, not to protect you.

Find a safe place for them to stay in case of violence, such as with a neighbor or

in a locked room. Teach them to call 911 and what to say to the dispatcher.

• Hide money, spare keys and a small bag of clothes at work or at a friend’s house.

For small children, hide a favorite toy or stuffed animal that will comfort them.

• Inform your employer about the situation and develop a safety plan at work.

Share a photo and description of the abuser with them and any pertinent legal

documentation, such as a protection order.

• Document the abuse by taking photos of bruises and injuries, tell your doctor and

get copies of your medical records; save threatening voicemails, notes and emails

and write each incident down in a journal.

• Gather important documents or copies of documents such as passports, birth

certificates, social security cards, insurance papers, work permits or green cards,

ownership documents for car and/or house, checkbooks and bank account

numbers. Hide these papers at work or at a friend’s house. Know the abuser’s

social security number, birth date and place of birth.

• Consider obtaining a protection order. It directs the abuser not to contact,

communicate with, attack, sexually assault or telephone you, your children or

other family members. If you have a protection order, carry a copy of it with you

at all times.

Safety Tips for Victims Planning on Staying – When You Are Afraid

• Move away from the kitchen, bathroom, garage or anyplace where there are

dangerous sharp objects.

• Plan the easiest escape route. Decide on a door or window to exit quickly and

safely. Make sure your kids know the route and practice it with them. Have a

code word so they know when to call the law enforcement.

• Don’t wear necklaces or scarves – these could be used to strangle you.

• Always make sure weapons are secured and that guns aren’t loaded.

Safety Tips for Victims Who Have Left Their Abuser

• Change the locks on your doors. Install steel/metal doors, a security system,

smoke detectors and an outside lighting system.

• Get Caller ID for your telephone so you can screen your calls.

• Consider getting a post office box for your mail or participating in a confidential

mailing program (if available in your state).

• Learn about your legal rights and options. If you have legal papers, keep copies

of them with you at all times.

• Tell neighbors, friends, landlords or coworkers that your abusive partner no

longer lives with you. Share your safety plan with people you trust. Explain it to

your children.

• Tell your employer/coworkers about your situation and ask them to screen your

calls, move your desk, change your work schedule/hours or accompany you to

your car.

• Tell the school or day care or others spending time with your children who can

pick them up and who can’t. If you have a protective order, make sure they know

about it.

• Vary your routes to work, to school or day care, to the grocery store and other

places you frequent.

• Call a friend or someone else who will be supportive, when you feel down and

ready to return to an abusive partner.