How Can I Increase My Safety
While I Am Still in the Relationship?
Call 911 if you are in danger.
Keep important phone numbers (police, domestic
violence hotlines, sexual assault / rape crisis
lines, or shelters, family, friends) with you
at all times and always have change for a phone
call.
Tell as many people as you can (friends, family, people
at school or work) about the violence and ask them to
call the police if they ever think you are in danger.
Develop code words to use with friends and family
to let them know when you are in immediate danger.
Make a list of places you could go to be safe if you
needed to get away in a hurry.
Find a person or place where you can leave emergency
money, keys, clothes and important documents.
Join a support group for victims of dating and domestic
violence.
Update, review and practice your safety plan regularly.
How Can I Increase My Safety
When Leaving the Relationship or When the Relationship Is
Over?
Go to court to get a restraining
order and give copies of the
order to the police, your school,
your work or any other place
where you spend time. Keep
a copy with you at all times,
and call 911 if the abuser
violates the restraining order.
Tell the people close to
you about the violence and
that you are no longer in the
relationship, and ask them
to look out for you and get
help if they ever think you
are in danger.
If possible, change any locks
in your house that the abuser
has keys to.
Make an escape plan in case
you are in danger and have
to leave home suddenly.
Try not to be alone in isolated
areas.
Find someone you feel comfortable
talking to when you need some
extra support or are afraid
you might go back to the abuser.
Join a support group for
victims of dating and domestic
violence.
What
Should I Take with Me if I Must
Leave Home?
ID, S.I.N.
and Driver's License
Address book
Change for a phone call or
a phone card
Money, cheques or credit
cards
Keys
A change of clothes for you
and your children (if you have
children)
Any needed medications
Any important papers, such
as school records, birth certificates
for you and your children,
immunization records, immigration
records, work permit or passport,
etc.
