Having a Safety Plan is an important and necessary step for someone in an abusive relationship. A Safety Plan is a guide you can implement for your specific needs.

     Listed below are Safety Plan suggestions compiled by domestic violence coalitions from around the country. Following these suggestions is not a garuntee of safety, but could help to improve your situation.

• Have an Escape Plan ready
  
  
• Practice your Escape Plan. Practice with your children
  
  
• Identify your partner’s use and level of force so that you can assess danger to you and your children before it occurs
  
  
• Try to avoid an abusive situation by leaving
  
  
• Identify safe areas of the house where there are no weapons and there are ways to escape. If arguments occur, try to move to those areas
  
  
• Don’t run to where the children are, as your partner may hurt them as well
  
  
• If violence is unavoidable, make yourself a small target; dive into a corner and curl up into a ball with your face protected and arms around each side of your head, fingers entwined
  
  
• Keep weapons like guns and knives locked away and as inaccessible as possible
  
  
• Try not to wear scarves or long jewelry that could be used to strangle you
  
  
• Create several plausible reasons for leaving the house at different times of the day or night
  
  
• Call a domestic violence hotline periodically to assess your options and get a supportive understanding ear