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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.