Creating an emergency action plan
It is important to develop a plan to protect yourself in the event of an emergency. Some things you may wish to consider in case you need to leave quickly could be:
- Keep the following with someone you trust: a spare set of keys, a set of clothes, important papers, prescriptions, social security numbers, some cash which you can accumulate over time and some of the items from the Checklist (What to Take with You When You Leave).
- Plan the safest time to get away.
- Know where you can go for help; tell someone what is happening to you. Have phone numbers of friends, relatives, and domestic violence programs with you.
- Develop a code word or phrase to use with a friend if you need help.
- Call 911 or the police when an incident of abuse happens. Depending on the seriousness of the incident, your abuser may be arrested, charged with a crime and brought to trial. Even if the batterer is not arrested, it may help you later to have a record of calls to the police. It is important to establish a record with the police in the event the case goes to a hearing.
- Plan an emergency escape route and plan. In the event you must immediately flee your home, make and practice an escape plan just like you would for a fire emergency. It will be helpful to put together a bag of clothing for you and your children, gather important papers (see Checklist, page 18), and store them in a fireproof box. These items can then be kept in an accessible, safe place or away from your home in case you need to make a quick exit.
- Arrange a signal with a neighbor; i.e., if the porch light is on, or a specific blind is closed or a shade is up, call the police.