In order to increase safety during a violent incident, abused women may use a variety of strategies. Some strategies for you to consider are:
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What is/are the possible escape route(s) from my homeÀ What doors, windows, elevators, stairwells, or fire escapes could I use: |
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I will take the time to practice how to get out safely. |
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I can keep my purse/wallet and keys handy, and always keep them in the same place _______________ so that I can locate them easily if I need to leave in a hurry. I can also have a second set of keys made in case my (ex)partner takes the first set. |
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If it is safe for me, I could tell the following people about the violence and ask them to call the police if they think I am in danger. |
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My children’s safety is central to my safety plan. I may be able to teach my children a safety plan just for them. |
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It may be helpful to have a code word to use with my children or other family members if I need them to call for help. My code word is ______________. |
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Safe places that I can go if I need to leave my home: |
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1. A place to use the phone: |
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2. A place I could stay for a couple of hours: |
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3. A place that I could stay for a couple of days: |
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During an abusive incident it is best to try to avoid places in the house where I may be trapped or where weapons are readily available such as the bathroom or kitchen. Bigger rooms with more than one exit may be safer. The places I would try to avoid would be _____________,_____________, _____________. |
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The places I would try to move to are _____________,_____________, _____________. |
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In abusive situations, women sometimes say or do things that in they would not do or say if they were in a healthier relationship. For some women this involves survival skills such as claiming to agree with the abuser even when it’s not true in order to increase safety. On other occasions, women may retaliate against the abuser with violence; however, be aware that such actions could lead to you being charged with a criminal offence. |
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Calling the Police can increase safety. Woman abuse is a crime; it is against the law. If there are reasonable and probable grounds to assume an assault has occurred, the Police are mandated to lay a charge of assault. |
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Given my past experience, other protective actions that I have considered/used are: |
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