How to protect yourself and your children
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself and your kids is to have a safety plan to get away from danger in case of an attack.
What should be in my safety plan?
- Important phone numbers
- Names of people you can ask to call police if they suspect you’re being attacked
- Secure places you can go
- A secure place to leave extra money, car keys, clothes, and copies of essential documents
Once you’ve drawn up a plan that feels solid to you, put it in practice.
- Keep a secondary, fully charged cell phone with you at all times.
- Rehearse your escape route with a support person.
- Open or maintain your own savings or checking account.
- Keep an extra set of car keys with you at all times.
For help putting together a safety plan of your own, please visit the following helpful resources:
- www.janedoe.org/safety.htm
- www.ywca.org (click on Domestic Violence link)
- www.acadv.org/friends.html
If you think your relationship may be abusive or feels threatening, you can take a quick, confidential online quiz to gauge your risk. The quiz is interactive, easy, and free. Please visit www.ywcabham.org/DVRes/takequiz.asp.
