Safety Plan (Be Prepared to Get Away) Keep with someone you trust; a spare set of keys, a set of clothes, important papers, prescriptions and some money. Keep any evidence of physical abuse (ripped clothes, photo of bruises and injuries, etc.). Plan the safest time to get away. 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. Call the police if you are in danger and need help. If you are injured, go to the hopital emergency room or doctor and report what happened to you. Ask that they document your visit. 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. 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.

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:
	Does your partner prevent you from seeing your family or friends?
	Does your partner constantly criticize you and your abilities?
	Does your partner intimidate or threaten you?
	Does your partner hit, punch, slap, or kick you?
	If you have a gun in your home, has your partner ever threatened to use it?
	Has your partner ever prevented you from leaving the house, getting a job, or continuing your education?
	Has your partner ever destroyed things that you cared about?
	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.