Safety at Home
- Change the locks on your doors.
- Identify safe areas of the house where there are no weapons and there are ways to escape. If arguments occur, try to move to those areas.
- Discuss and practice a safety plan with your children.
- Teach your children when and how to call 911.
- Reschedule appointments that the abuser is aware of.
- Help your children make a list of people they are comfortable talking to.
- Inform your children’s schools or caregivers who has permission to pick up your children.
- If possible, have a phone accessible at all times and know what numbers to call for help.
- Notify your landlord and/or a trusted neighbor that your partner no long lives with you and to notify law enforcement if they see him at your residence.
Safety When Preparing to Leave
- Open a savings account and/or credit card in your name to develop financial independence.
- Leave money, an extra set of keys, copies of important documents, extra medications, and clothes with someone you trust.
- Determine who would let you stay with them or help you financially if needed.
- Keep the shelter hotline number with you at all times in case of emergency.
- Review your safety plan often and keep everything up to date and ready to go. Remember – leaving your abuser is a very dangerous time.
Safety at Work
- Tell your co-worker(s), boss and office/building security about your situation.
- Provide a photo of your abuser for quick identification.
- Arrange to have a co-worker screen your telephone calls.
- Devise a safety plan for when you leave work. Have someone escort you to your car.
- Use a variety of routes to go home when possible. If something were to happen while going home think about what you would do.
Safety with an Order of Protection
- Keep your order of protection with you at all times; keep a copy in your purse, glove compartment of your car; and desk at work. Give a copy to a family member and a trusted neighbor.
- Call the police if your abuser violates the order of protection.
- Think ahead of ways to safe while waiting on the arrival of law enforcement.
- Inform family, friends and a trusted neighbor that you have an order of protection.
- Know when your order of protection expires.
- Try to avoid places where your abuser might go.
Teen Dating Safety Plan
- Always have a cell phone with you, including important phone numbers.
- If you are being assaulted or afraid an assault is about to occur, call the police or 911.
- Ask friends, family and co-workers to not to relay notes or messages from your ex-partner.
- Block your ex-partner’s screen name so he/she cannot use Instant Messaging to bother you.
- Prevent your ex-partner’s access to your page on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other web sites where you share information.
- Have someone you trust travel with you, sit with you, stay by you or watch out for you at your job, school events and other activities.
Internet and Computer Safety
Technology can be used as a tool for domestic violence victims, but it can also be misused by abusers. Take these steps to remain safe:
- Trust your instincts.It is possible that your phone, computer, email, or other online activities are being monitored. Take action to protect yourself.
- Change passwords & Pin Numbers.If your abuser knows or could guess your passwords or pins, change them quickly and frequently. Don’t forget email, banking, voicemail, etc.
- Use a safer computer.If your abuser has access to your computer, he/she may be monitoring your computer activities. Use a safer computer – library, friends house, etc – to look for help, a new place to live, etc.
- Create a new email account.Create an additional email account on a safer computer. Do not create or check this account from a computer your abuser could access, in case it is monitored. Use an anonymous name. Look for free web-based email accounts. Do not provide your real name or detailed information about yourself.
- Check your cell phone settings.If you are using a cell phone provided by the abuser, consider turning it off when not in use. Most phones can be tracked. Contact your cell phone service provider to find out how to change phone security settings.
- Use a donated or new cell phone.When making or receiving private calls or arranging escape plans, try not to use a shared or family cell phone because billing records may reveal your plans to an abuser. Use a new or donated prepaid phone and prepaid card to make arrangements.
- Minimize use of cordless phones or baby monitors.Turn baby monitors off when not in use to prevent your abuser from overhearing sensitive conversations. Use a traditional corded phone instead of cordless phones.
- Get a private post office box and don’t give out your real address.When asked by businesses, doctors, and others for your address, have a private P.O. box or a safer address to give them.
- Search for your name on the internet.Major search engines such as ‘Google’ or ‘Yahoo’ may have links to your contact information. Search for your name in quotation marks:”Full Name”.
- Ask about your records and data.Many court systems and government agencies are publishing records to the internet. Ask agencies how they protect or publish your records and request that court, government, post office, and others seal or restrict access to your files to protect your safety.
Source: Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
