What Can I Do If I’m At Risk For Domestic Violence?

Every couple has arguments, that’s a common fact of life. But when you feel in danger, or your life feels threatened, that’s not normal. If you feel that you are at risk of being hurt by your loved one, there are things you can to to prevent it.

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.