A safety plan is a practical guide that helps lower your risk of being hurt by your abusive partner. It includes information specific to you and your life that will help keep you safe. A good safety plan helps you think through lifestyle changes that will help keep you as safe as possible when going to the places that you go to daily. A personalized safety plan can enhance your safety while experiencing abuse, preparing to leave an abusive situation, or after you leave. This plan helps to improve safety by outlining your actions and support contacts.

Keep in Mind

• For this safety plan to work for you, you’ll need to fill in personalized answers so you can use the information when you most need it.
• Once you complete your safety plan, be sure to keep it in an accessible but secure location. You might also consider giving a copy of your safety plan to someone that you trust.

Safety plans can include:

• Obtaining a new cell phone
• Changing a routine
• Changing locks and installing security systems
• Determining ways to keep children safe, such as safety words or phrases
• Creating a plan for where to go should an incident occur

If a victim is planning to leave, here are some things to consider putting aside a bag with:

• Identification (e.g., driver’s license, school ID, military ID, immigration documents)
• Cell Phone
• Cell phone charger
• Medication (e.g., asthma inhaler, insulin, Epi-pen)
• Cash
• ATM card, Credit card, Debit card, or checkbook
• House key
• Car key
• A change of clothes
• Valuables, photos, etc.
• Address book
• Comfort items (e.g., favorite stuffed animal or photograph)
• Baby supplies (formula, diapers, wipes, change of clothes)
• Copy of Protection/Restraining Order
• Child’s birth certificate
• Health insurance card
• Other important documents like birth certificates, immunization records, tax records, passports, and social security cards.
• You can keep these items in a safe place or with a safe person.

Safety During an Argument

• Stay in an area with an exit and avoid letting the other person get between you and the exit.
• Practice getting out of your home safely.
• Avoid rooms with weapons, such as the kitchen.
• Have emergency 911 phones hidden throughout the home.
• Tell trustworthy neighbors about the violence. Ask them to call the police if they hear or see any disturbance.
• Devise a code word or signal to use with your children, family, friends, and trustworthy neighbors when you need the police.
• Trust your instincts and judgment. You have the right to protect yourself until you are out of danger.

Safety During an Incident

• Try to be in a room with an exit—a window or a door leading outside. Avoid the kitchen, bathroom, or places near weapons.
• Try to get to a room that has a phone or have a cell phone handy if possible.
• Develop a code word with your children, family, or friends so they can call 911 or someone safe for you.
• Teach your children how to use the phone and whom to call for help.
• Keep your purse and car keys in the same place so they can be found quickly.
• Tell trusted neighbors to watch for signs of violence so they can call the police.
• Use your instincts and judgment. The main concern is to protect yourself until you are out of danger.

MY SAFETY PLAN

Staying safe at work:

• The safest way for me to get to and from work:
• If I need to leave work in an emergency, I can get home safely by:
• I can make sure that a coworker walks with me to my vehicle at the end of my shift:
• Areas where I feel safe to spend time with coworkers and eat lunch are:

Staying Safe at Home:

• I can tell this family member about what is going on in my relationship:
• There may be times when no one else is home. During those times, I can have people stay with me. I will ask:
• The safest way for me to leave my house in an emergency is:
• If I must go in an emergency, I should try to go to a place that is public, safe, and unknown by my abusive partner. I could go here:
• I will use a code word so I can alert my family, friends, and neighbors to call for help without my abusive partner knowing about it. My codeword is:

Staying Safe Emotionally:

• My abusive partner often tries to make me feel bad about myself by saying or doing this:
• When he/she does this, I will think of these reasons why I know my abuser is wrong:
• I will do things I enjoy, like:
• I will join clubs or organizations that interest me, like:
• I could talk to the following people at school if I need to rearrange my schedule to avoid my abusive partner or if I need help staying safe at school: