By making a safety plan now, you and your children will know ahead of time, what steps you need to take to be safer if or when a violent situation were to occur.
Below is a checklist to help you map out your safety plan. One is for what to do before a violent incident and the other is for what to do during a violent incident.
What You Can Do Before A Violent Incident
If you believe that you might be subjected to violence there are a number of things you can think about in advance.
You can prepare to leave by doing some of the following things:
- Keep a suitcase, box or bag where you can get to it quickly and easily. In it, keep as many of the following items as you can:
- An extra set of keys for the apartment or house and vehicle
- Small bills and change for taxis and telephone call
- Identification papers - passport, social insurance card, birth certificates, immigration papers, citizenship card, aboriginal status card
- Driver's licence and registration
- Health cards and children's immunization records for yourself and your children
- Divorce and/or custody papers
- Restraining orders, peace bonds, any other court orders
- Bank books, cheque book, credit cards, mortgage or loan papers
- Lease/rental agreement, property deed, business or partnership agreements, rent or mortgage payment receipts
- Address book
- Photograph of your abuser to help identify him/her to police or shelter staff
- A list of other items you can pick up later
- Keep your purse, wallet, personal identification, keys and other emergency items in _____________________ in case you have to leave suddenly.
- Open a separate bank account in your name at _____________________. Request that any statements be sent to _____________________ so that your abuser doesn't see them.
- Check to see how much money is in your joint account in case you need to remove half the money quickly. If your abuser knows your account or PIN number, change it.
- You can help your children escape by telling them _____________________. Teach them how to call 911 and other emergency numbers such as _____________________.
- Review and revise your safety plan every _____________________.
