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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.
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