Being
Safe
More women are assaulted, injured
and killed in their homes than in any other place. As a woman experiencing
abuse from a current or former partner,
your safety is priority
number one.
The most valuable tool you
have to ensure your safety is your intuition.
Some women call this their ‘gut’, ‘a hunch’, or
‘nagging feeling’. Your intuition is your internal warning
system that goes off when something is not right in your environment.
Do not let anyone minimize or overstep your intuition. Take action.
Your intuition is based on all of your past experiences and it is the
single greatest predictor of danger. In other words,
trust yourself.
The first rule about safety
is simple: If you are being threatened, or feel an explosion is about
to occur, call 911. Dial 911 and lay the phone down. officers will be
sent to your location. All
children should know how to call for help. Practice this procedure.
If you cannot get to your phone, go to the nearest public place and
dial 911.
General
Safety
• Trust your instincts
• Never get into a vehicle with your abuser.
• Keep a log of all incidents (hang ups, following, threats, vandalism,
etc.)
• Teach your children where to go and what to do in case of an
emergency.
• Report all concerning events to local law enforcement.
• Exchange children for visitation at a police station or SAFExchange.
• Carry a cell phone or 911 phone.
• Set up a code to use with a trusted friend or neighbor (e.g.
lights on or off).
Home Safety
• Keep doors, windows, garage, etc. locked
• Keep lights on
• Install deadbolts and peepholes
• Re-key locks
• Use dowels or window locks for sliding glass doors and windows
• Have extra light bulbs on hand
• Install motion detectors
• Have charged flashlights
• Include neighbors you trust in your safety plan
• Keep trees and bushes trimmed away from doors, windows and sidewalks
• Keep trees and bushes trimmed off the ground to eliminate hiding
places
• Get to know your neighbors and recognize faces
• Padlock your breaker box if it is outside
• Teach children what to do in case of an emergency
• Attach bells to your doors to hear someone entering
• Change the code on automatic garage door openers
• Keep pepper spray inside the house by all outside doors
• Pull down window shades at night
• Use automatic turn-on/shut-off timers on lights in front rooms
• Turn on outside lights, indoor lights, TV, radio, etc. if you
are gone at night
• Plan a safe room in your home which includes:
– Cell phone
– Flashlight
– First aid kit
– Fire extinguisher
– Pepper spray
– Window rope or ladder
• Use a dresser drawer to quickly break out a window if necessary
• Wedge a small folded piece of paper into door and window frames
to determine if anyone has entered the house during your absence
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Work Safety
• Inform your supervisor, building security and co-workers of your
situation
• Vary the routes you travel to work
• Ask co-workers to screen calls and take messages
• Request that your address and phone number not be listed in company
directories
• Ask to be escorted to your vehicle
• Use caution in elevators, parking lots, stairwells, etc.
• Keep your purse and keys in a safe, locked place
Vehicle
Safety
• Keep your vehicle in good running condition with at least a quarter
tank of gas
• Know the location of your local police station
• Leave an extra set of keys with a safe person or in a safe place
• Have your key in hand as you walk to your vehicle
• Look under and around your vehicle before your enter it
• Park in a well-lit place
• Keep vehicle windows and doors closed and locked
• Do not pick up hitch-hikers or stop to assist others
Phone Safety
• Change your phone number to an unlisted number
• Use an answering machine or caller ID to screen calls
• Put call-blocking on your phone service
• Never give out personal information to any caller
• Never agree to meet with a caller to pick up or sign something
• Double check on any call requesting that you respond to an emergency
• Instruct children to not reveal when you are not home or when
you will return
Mail Safety
• Get a post office box away from your work or home
• Destroy mail before discarding
• Do not reveal your address to a stranger
• Have mail sent to a friend or relative
Internet
Safety
For computer safety information, visit http://www.nnedv.org/default.asp?Page=17
and follow any instructions you think may be helpful.
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Domestic
Violence
