Tips for Getting Away from Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is extremely serious and sadly, very common. If you have been a victim of domestic violence or fear that you or your family may become a victim of domestic violence, this article offers tips for you to follow to get yourself and your family to safety.
What to do in a domestic violence emergency
- Stay away from the kitchen
- Stay away from bathrooms, closets or small spaces where the abuser can trap you
- Get to a room with a door or window to escape
- Get to a room with a phone to call for help. Lock the abuser outside if you can
- Call 911 right away for help
- Think about a neighbor or friend you can run to for help
- If a police officer comes, tell him/her exactly what happened
- Get medical help if you are hurt
- Take pictures of bruises or injuries
- Call a domestic violence program or shelter and ask them to help you make a safety plan
How to protect yourself from domestic violence at home
- Memorize emergency phone numbers
- Keep a phone in a room you can lock from the inside
- If the abuser has moved out, change the locks on your door and get locks on the windows
- Plan an escape route out of your home and teach it to your children
- Think about where you would go if you need to escape
- Ask your neighbors to call the police if they see the abuser at your house and make a signal for them to call the police
- Pack a bag with important things you’d need if you had to leave quickly and put it in a safe place, or give it to a friend or relative you trust
- Include cash, car keys & important information such as court papers, passport or birth certificates, medical records & medicines, immigration papers
- Get an unlisted phone number
- Block caller ID
- Use an answering machine to screen the calls
- Take a good self-defense course
Domestic violence centers in Arizona
Domestic violence centers help victims of domestic violence and their families stay safe. Here is a list of domestic violence shelters in Arizona, speak to one in your area.