Hope

Safety Planning

24-Hour Help-Line (941) 755-6805

Outreach Office (941) 747-8499

A Safety Plan is different for each persons situation. Here are some suggestions on what you can do to better keep yourself safe. If you have any questions or would like to develop a safety plan with the advocates of HOPE call the

Outreach Office at: (941) 747-8499.

Safety When Preparing to Leave

Open a savings account in your own name to start to establish or increase your independence.
Leave money, an extra set of keys, copies of important documents and extra clothes with someone you trust so you can leave quickly.
Determine who would be able to let you stay with them or lend you money.
Keep the help-line phone number (941-755-6805) close at hand and keep some change or a calling card on you at all times for emergency phone calls.
Review your safety plan as often as possible in order to plan the safest way to leave your batterer. REMEMBER: Leaving your batterer is the most dangerous time.

Safety Planning on the Job & in Public

Decide who at work you will inform of your situation. This should include office or building security (provide a picture of your batterer if possible)
Arrange to have someone screen your telephone calls if possible.
Devise a safety plan for when you leave work. Have someone escort you to your car or bus. Use a variety of routes to go home by if possible. Think about what you would do if something happened while going home.

Safety Planning in Your Home

Change the locks on your doors as soon as possible. Buy additional locks and safety devises to secure your windows.
Discuss a safety plan with your children for when you are not with them.
Inform your children's school, day care, etc. about who has permission to pick up your children.
Inform neighbors and landlord that your partner no longer lives with you and that they should call the police if they see him near your home.

Safety With a Protective Order

Keep your protective order on you at all times. When you change your purse, that should be the first thing that goes in it.
Call the police if your partner breaks the protective order.
Think of alternative ways to keep safe if the police do not respond right away.
Inform family, friends and neighbors that you have a protective order in effect.

Safety During an Explosive Incident

If an argument seems unavoidable, try to have it in a room or area that has access to an exit and not in the bathroom, kitchen or anywhere near weapons.
Practice how to get out of your home safely. Identify which doors, windows, elevator or stairwell would be best.
Have a packed bag ready and keep it in an undisclosed accessible place in order to leave quickly.
Identify a neighbor you can tell about the violence and ask that they call the police if they hear a disturbance coming from your home.
Devise a code word to use with your children, family, friends and neighbors when you need the police.
Decide and plan for where you will go if you have to leave home (even if you do not think you will need to).
Use your instincts and judgment. If the situation is very dangerous, consider giving the abuser what he wants to calm him down. You have the right to protect yourself until you are out of danger.
Always remember, YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO BE HIT OR THREATENED!!