At CASA, we call anyone who lives through the day
in a home where there is violence a “survivor.” It
takes tremendous courage to live another day. It takes
heroic courage to reach out and ask for help. We cannot
fail to respond.
Click here for printable version of Safety Plan
A safety plan identifies the steps you can take to increase
your safety and helps prepare you, minor children, and
any other affected family members to act quickly to protect
yourselves in the event of future violence. We encourage
you to make a plan while you’re living with your
abuser at a time when the environment is calm.
Unfortunately, there is no way that a safety plan
can absolutely guarantee your safety or that of your
loved ones. However, following this plan will reduce
the chance that your abuser will have the opportunity
to hurt you, or himself. Remember that you do not have
control over your abuser’s actions, but you do
have control over your own.
This plan should be used as a guide and reminder
of ways all of you can increase your safety. This plan should
be hidden in a safe place where the abuser is unlikely
to find it. It should also be reviewed and updated on
a regular basis if the situation or living environment
changes.
WHILE THE ENVIRONMENT IS STILL CALM
Prepare an Escape Bag (or box or suitcase or any other
portable container). Put in it essential articles or
papers you will need if the abuser becomes violent
and you need to leave in a hurry. It may be necessary
to keep the container in a friend or relative’s
home, your workplace, your spiritual community home,
or any other place where the abuser will not have access
to it. Here is a checklist of some items to consider
placing in it:
_____ Identification
_____ Birth certificates
_____ Social Security cards
_____ Medicare or Medicaid cards
_____ Extra cash or traveler’s checks
_____ Lease, rental agreement, house deed
_____ Bankbooks
_____ Checkbooks
_____ Insurance papers
_____ Extra house and car keys
_____ Medical records for all family members
_____ Medications
_____ Extra eyeglasses
_____ Photographs of family members (including the abuser)
_____ Welfare identification papers
_____ School and college records, including diplomas
_____ Immigration papers
_____ Immunization records
_____ Work permits
_____ Passports
_____ Divorce papers
_____ Copy of Injunction for Protection
_____ Military discharge papers
_____ Jewelry and other small saleable objects
_____ Other (identify)
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Open a separate bank account in your own name and have
the statements sent to a post office box or a friend
or relative’s address so the abuser will not see
them. Keep account and PIN (Personal Identification Number)
secret.
Identify people who would be able to let you stay with
them temporarily or lend you some money in an emergency:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
If other family members at risk and living with you
are able to walk and talk, complete the following:
Prepare a plan of escape for yourself and other vulnerable
family members, such as children and disabled or elderly
adults. For example, tell them: “If we are talking
on the phone and you hear me say the word ‘______________’,
don’t come home. Instead go to _________________________(place)
and call 911. If _________________ isn’t home,
then go to __________________ (place) and call 911. If
you are in another room and you hear the sounds of fighting,
leave the house/apartment by _________________ (window,
another door), go to ______________________ (place) and
call 911 from there. I want you to keep yourself safe
and that will be the best way to help me. Don’t
try to help me by fighting with ______________ because
you might get hurt.”
If you are still living with the abuser, fill this information
out now. If you move, revise it for your new residence
immediately after the move.
Look over every room in the house and figure out the
best way to escape during a violent incident. Discuss
this with vulnerable family members.
If you are in your bedroom, the best way to escape is:
_____________________________________.
If you are in the living room, the best way to escape
is:
_____________________________________.
If you are in the kitchen, the best way to escape is:
_____________________________________.
If you hear sounds of fighting, you should not go in
the ____________________ (room) because there is no way
to escape.
You know there are knives, guns, or other things that
can be used to hurt you in these rooms: _____________________________________
so you will avoid being in them or leading the abuser
into them during a violent incident.
If it is not possible to use any entryways to the house/apartment
because of the location of the abuser, pick a safe room
that has a lock and access to a telephone (this can
be a 911 cell phone, which must be kept charged at all
times.)
Teach vulnerable family members to call for help by dialing
911. An operator will answer “911 – What
is your emergency?” The caller will say “Someone
at my house is being hurt. Send the police. My name is
______________; the address here is _______________;
the phone number here is ______________. Leave the
phone line open After Giving this information. Answer any questions
the 911 operator may ask.
If you are concerned about the safety of your pets,
contact the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals (SPCA) and ask for their advice on protecting
pets. The Pinellas County SPCA number is (727) 586-3591.
DURING A VIOLENT INCIDENT
There are weapons in these rooms: _____________________________________.
I will stay out of those rooms and will try to lead
the abuser away from them. Avoid being backed into
a corner or into a room with no exits.
If possible, dial 911 from the home phone and hang up
or leave the phone off the hook. The address of the home
phone will be displayed to the 911 operator. This will
not work from a mobile phone!
If the abuser already has a weapon or the situation
appears very dangerous, take whatever action you believe
may calm him/her down. Protect yourself in any way you
can. If you’re being beaten or kicked, curl up
on the floor and protect your head with your arms.
SAFETY AFTER THE ABUSER IS NO LONGER IN THE HOME
Change the locks on the doors and install safety devices
on all windows. This is not necessary if you have
moved to a new location and you are sure the abuser has
never had keys to the residence. If you are in the same
or a new residence, check with the police department
about the best way to secure doors and windows.
If you have minor children list below the people who
have permission to pick up your children from school
or daycare. Copy this list to a separate piece of paper
and give it to your children’s school administrators,
teachers, after school caregivers, etc. and ask that
they get identification from anyone who attempts to pick
up your children from school.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
List your landlord and neighbors listed below. Tell
them that the abuser no longer lives with you and ask
them to call 911 if they see him/her near your home.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
If you have an Injunction for Protection against the
abuser, make several copies, keep one with you at all
times and keep copies in the following places:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
If you are employed, list trusted coworkers and/or supervisors
to whom you can disclose your situation. Tell them the
abuser’s name so that they will not put phone calls
through from him. Provide a picture of the abuser so
they will know what he looks like.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
If you are employed, list trusted coworkers, supervisors,
or security personnel whom you can ask to escort you
to your car or bus when you leave work. Remember to vary
the time you leave and the route you take to and from
work.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
If the abuser is entitled to visitation with the children,
list the ways in which you’ll keep yourself and
your children safe before, during and after visitation.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
To increase safety, provide your workplace, church,
school, etc. with the following description of the abuser
and a recent photograph, if available:
Height ____________ Weight _____________ Age _____________
Race__________
Hair Color _____________ Eye color ________________ Glasses
____________
Scars, tattoos, other distinguishing characteristics
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Description of abuser’s vehicle:
Year________ Make_______________________
Model____________________________
Color______________Plate #_______________
Distinguishing marks/damages:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
EMOTIONAL HEALING
List below the people whom you trust and can turn to
for emotional support:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Go to the library and find books, articles and poems
that can help you identify your feelings about your situation
and feel stronger about your ability to cope.
Call CASA to find out where there are support groups
and list them below:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
List the places and people who can provide emotional
support for your children.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
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