Protect Yourself

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Safety Plan Checklist

1.        Inform people you can trust about the abuse

2.        Locate a safe place you can go to day or night. For example, the home of a friend, relative, neighbor, or a shelter.

3.        Plan for transportation.

4.        Carry your Medical Assistance Card, Health Insurance Card, and Medicare Card with you at all times.

5.        Keep an extra set of keys, some quarters and dimes, a credit card, cash, and telephone numbers together in a safe place in case you need to leave your home quickly.

6.        Keep important papers such as birth certificates, marriage license, divorce papers, social security cards, bank statements, mortgage papers, lease, car title, and payroll check stubs in a safe place so they are available if you need them quickly. A safe place, for example, may be a friend or relative's home .

7.        If you have small children in your life, establish a safety plan with them. Teach them when to leave and how to call the police.

8.        Prepare an extra set of clothes for each person that may leave with you, keeping them readily available if you need to leave quickly. For children, pack one favorite item for each child.

9.        If you have a protection order, carry it with you at all times.

10.      Get the locks changed if necessary and/or possible.

11.      Install and use security devices such as peepholes and door chains if possible.

12.      Remove dangerous weapons from your home, if possible.

13.      Try to avoid arguing in the kitchen.

14.      Join an appropriate support group that you can go to for support and information.

15.      Trust your instincts about what to do in a situation that may become violent.