Staying Safe
Ways To Stay Safe From An Explosive Incident:
| • Practice leaving your home safely. |
| • Identify which doors, windows, elevator(s), or stairwell(s) would be best to use in an emergency. |
| • Have a packed bag ready and keep it at a relative’s or friend’s home in case you need to leave your home quickly. |
| • Identify one or more neighbors you can tell about the violence and ask that they call the police if they hear a disturbance coming from your home. |
| • Decide whether you need to leave your home and think about how to leave safely. |
| • Think about how to safely take your child(ren) with you if you do need to leave. |
| • Designate a “safe place” for your child(ren) where they may go if necessary (and where you will know to meet them). |
| • Decide and plan for where you will go if you need to leave home quickly (even if you don’t think you will need to leave). |
| • Devise a code word to use with your children, family, friends and neighbors when you need help from the police. |
| • Teach your children to dial 911. |
Staying Safe During An Explosive Incident:
| • Decide whether you need to leave your home and think about how to leave safely. |
| • If an incident seems unavoidable, try to have it in a room or area where you have access to an exit. Try to stay away from the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom or anywhere else where weapons might be available. |
| • Use your own instincts and judgment. Consider giving the abuser what he/she wants to calm her/him down. You have the right to protect yourself until you are out of danger. |
| • Call the person with whom you have identified a safety code word. |
| • Tell your children to call 911; go to the designated safe place; inform the neighbors. |
| • Always remember — YOU DON’T DESERVE TO BE HURT OR THREATENED |
Safety When Preparing To Leave:
| • Open a savings account and/or credit card in your own name to increase your options. Think of other ways in which you can increase your independence. |
| • Leave money, an extra set of keys, copies of important documents, extra medicines and clothes with someone you trust so you can leave quickly. |
| • Determine who would be able to let you stay with them or lend you some money. |
| • Discuss a safety plan with your child(ren) for when you are not with them. |
| • Inform your child(ren)’s school, day care, etc., about who has permission to take your child(ren). |
| • Review your safety plan as often as possible in order to plan the safest way to leave. |
| • Remember — LEAVING MAY BE YOUR MOST DANGEROUS TIME. |
Checklist Of What To Take With You:
Identification:
| • Diver’s License |
| • Child(ren)’s Birth Certificate(s) |
| • Your Birth Certificate |
| • Social Security Cards (You & Children) |
| • Welfare Identification |
Financial Papers:
| • Money and/or Credit Cards (WARNING: Cards Can Be Traced) |
| • Bank Books |
| • Checkbooks |
Legal Papers:
| • Lease, Rental Contract, House Deed, Rent Receipts |
| • Car Registration & Insurance Papers |
| • Medical Records (You & Children) |
| • School Records |
| • Work Permits/Green Card/Visa |
| • Passport |
| • Marriage Certificate/License |
| • Divorce Papers |
| • Custody Papers |
| • Any Other Court Papers |