Safety Plan
One of the things that you can do to help yourself is to have a safety plan for those times when you feel unsafe or at risk of being hurt. The following safety plan is an example of what you can do to prepare for a time when you are in danger and need to leave quickly.
- Decide who you will call if you feel threatened or in danger. This will probably be the Police but could also be a neighbour, relative or friend
- Decide where you will go if you need a safe place. You may need to leave the house in a hurry if you think you may be hurt. If you have children, develop a safety plan for them such as working out where they can go that is safe if you are unable to get away. This could be a neighbour or someone else who lives close by
- Decide what arrangements you might need to make for your pets if they will be at risk of being harmed
- If possible save some money for a taxi, bus or train for emergency transportation to a safe place
- Keep extra keys to your house and car in a safe place
- Make a list of emergency phone numbers
- Consider keeping some clothing, medications, important papers, keys and some money with someone you can trust
- Practice travelling to the location that you have chosen as a safe place
- If you are going on a date make sure you carry emergency cash, have a phone card or mobile phone, consider using your own transport and meet the other person at the venue, and tell someone else who you are going out with, where, and an expected time you will be back.
More information is available in Increasing your safety booklet: Information for people who experience abuse and violence in relationships.
Last updated: 24 June 2008.