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Violence
Safety
Plan
(Be Prepared to Get Away)
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Keep with someone you trust;
a spare set of keys, a set of clothes, important papers,
prescriptions and some money. |

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Keep any evidence of physical abuse (ripped
clothes, photo of bruises and injuries, etc.). |

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Plan the safest time to get
away. |

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Know where you can go for help.
Tell someone what is happening to you. Have the phone numbers
of friends, relatives and domestic violence shelters with
you. |

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Call the police if you are
in danger and need help. |

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If you are injured, go to the hopital emergency
room or doctor and report what happened to you. Ask that
they document your visit. |

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Plan with your children and identify a
safe place for them; a room with a lock or a neighbor's
house where they can go for help. Reassure them their job
is to stay safe, not protect you. |

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Arrange a signal with a neighbor, i.e.,
if the porch light is on, call the police. |
Call the National Domestic
Violence 24-Hour Hotline
1-800-799-7233
Find out what laws and other resources
are available to you before there is a crisis.
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How can you tell if you are being
abused?
The most difficult step for you to take is to
actually admit that you are being abused by your partner. Yet,
admission is the first step necessary in finding your way out
of an abusive relationship. How can you tell if you are being
abused? Ask yourself these questions: |
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Does your partner prevent
you from seeing your family or friends? |
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Does your partner constantly
criticize you and your abilities? |
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Does your partner intimidate
or threaten you? |
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Does your partner hit,
punch, slap, or kick you? |
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If you have a gun in your
home, has your partner ever threatened to use it? |
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Has your partner ever prevented
you from leaving the house, getting a job, or continuing your
education? |
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Has your partner ever destroyed
things that you cared about? |
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Has your partner ever forced
you to have sex or forced you to engage in sex that makes you
feel uncomfortable? |
If you answered "yes"
to any of these questions, you should seek professional help because
you may be in an abusive relationship. Millions of women and men
are struggling with similar difficulties. Perhaps you and your
partner can work through these problems. But if you feel you are
in danger, you owe it to yourself to seek help and support.
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