safety

SAFETY PLANNING

Strategies At Home

Keep the areas around the outside of your home easy to see.
Avoid having dark areas around your outside doors that could provide a hiding place for an intruder.
Make sure all entrance ways to your home are well lit.
Replace light bulbs.
Make a “Safe Room” in your home, with a phone (if possible) where you can lock yourself inside and keep an intruder out.
Teach all family members to use 911 when appropriate.
Keep emergency numbers and your address by the phone.
If you suspect an intruder is in your home, do not investigate. Leave immediately and go to a safe place and call the police.
Install a peep-hole in your front door.
Ask who it is before opening the door.
Many women call out something like, “I’ll get it, Jack!” to show that they are not alone.
Install locks on all doors and windows.

If you are a renter, you may request in writing that your landlord repair or install locks. Your landlord is also responsible for keeping areas on her/his property well lit. (This would include the front/back of the building, hallways, and courtyards).

Safety Planning With Children During A Domestic Violence Situation

Teach the child to:

Find a safe adult and ask for help whenever they experience violence. This may involve calling supportive family members, friends, or community agencies for help.
Escape from the house if an assault is imminent or in progress.
If they cannot escape, discuss where they can go to be safe in the house. Identify a safe room with a lock and telephone access.
Avoid being in the middle of the domestic violence.
Find a place to go in an emergency and the steps to take to find safety.
Call the police (911).

Strategies When Out & About

When Walking Alone

Tell someone you trust where you are going, when you plan to return, and who you are with.
If you are followed by someone in a car, turn and run in the opposite direction. Go to a well-lit place where there are other people.
If you walk or jog alone, keep your head up, look around constantly and go against traffic.
Avoid walking alone if you are upset, distracted, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Avoid dark, empty places.

If someone comes up to you to ask you a question, it is perfectly okay not to answer at all. Or, you could answer, “I don’t know” and walk on. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone just walk away.

When Traveling By Car

Keep gas in your car and keep it in good repair.
Remain inside your car if you have mechanical problems and ask a passerby to call the police for you.
Keep your door locked at all times. Keep a pair of comfortable shoes in your car in case you do need to go for help.
If you are approached while stopped at a light- sound the horn. Then look for oncoming traffic and drive away (if safe to do so).
If you suspect someone is following you, drive to the nearest public place and honk your horn.
Do not stop to help stranded motorists. Go to the next available phone and call 911.
Always carry enough money for a phone or taxi. Make sure you have a way to get home safely. Do not hitchhike.
Always park your car in a well-lit area.
If you have to park in an isolated area, try to have someone walk you to your car.

When Traveling By Bus

Stay aware of your surroundings.
Sit close to the bus driver if you are not sure of the route.
Stay awake on the bus.
Stay alert. Notice who gets off at your stop. Watch to see if you are followed.

When Going To Parties, Bars, Or Other Social Gatherings

Drink responsibly.
Never take an opened drink.
Do not leave your drink unattended and if you do, get a new drink.
Develop a buddy system to avoid being left alone.
Drive to gatherings with a friend. Leave together. Keep an eye out for each other.

IF YOU ARE BEING STALKED

Safety Tips:

Tell your family, friends and neighbors that you are being stalked. Show them a picture of the perpetrator
If you live in an apartment complex, notify the manager immediately.
Change your routine.
Don’t answer the phone unless you know who it is.
Under no circumstance open your door if you do not know who it is.
Make sure all your keys are accounted for.
When leaving or arriving at your home always check for unfamiliar cars or persons.
If you have a “gut feeling” that something isn’t right, don’t second guess the feeling - go with it.
Keep a cellular phone handy in the event your phone line is cut.
Contact all of your utility companies and have all of your accounts coded with a password.
Do not throw anything in your trash can that contains any information with your name, address or phone number.

Stalking Resource:

End Stalking In America, Inc.

2015 N. Dobson Rd., Suite 4-222

Chandler, AZ 85224

www.esia.net

Cyberstalking Safety Tips:

Trust your instincts. If you suspect the abusive person knows too much, it is possible that your phone, computer, email, or other activities are being monitored. Abusers and stalkers can act in incredibly persistent and creative ways to maintain power and control.
Try to use a safer computer when you look for domestic or sexual violence resources. It may be safer to use a computer at a public library, community center, or Internet café.
Consider creating additional email/IM accounts on a safer computer if you suspect that anyone abusive can access your email or Instant Messaging (IM). Do not create or check new email/IM accounts from a computer that might be monitored. Look for free web-based email accounts, and strongly consider using non identifying name & account information. (i.e. bluecat@email.com instead of YourRealName@email.com) Also, make sure to carefully read the registration screens so you can choose not to be listed in any online directories.
If you have social network accounts, you may block users from accessing your personal pages. You may need to contact the website administrator for further information.
Be suspicious if someone abusive has installed a new keyboard, cord, or software, or recently done computer repair work that coincides with an increase of stalking or monitoring.
If you are thinking about buying a new computer, there are steps you can take to reduce the chance of spyware getting on your new machine (but it is impossible to completely eliminate all risk).
Install and enable a firewall. There are both software and hardware firewalls. If a firewall didn’t come with your computer, consider purchasing a firewall from any computer store or website.
Have at least one anti-virus protection program installed and actively scanning your computer, and make sure your anti-virus definitions are up-to-date because new dangerous viruses are released daily. This may involve setting your computer to automatically update its virus definitions and run antivirus scans frequently and making sure to renew your anti-virus software subscription every year.
Install anti-spyware programs before you even connect to the Internet and make sure their spyware definitions are updated automatically and regularly.
Be aware of spyware and keystroke logging hardware. If you are suspicious that your computer has been infiltrated with viruses or monitoring software, take your computer to a computer store to have it examined by a professional who can identify and remove any malware.
Change passwords & pin numbers. Some abusers use victim’s email and other accounts to impersonate and cause harm. If anyone abusive knows or could guess your passwords, change them quickly and frequently. Think about any password protected accounts - online banking, credit cards, school on-line access, voicemail, etc.
Ask about your records and data. Many court systems and government agencies are publishing records to the Internet. Ask agencies how they protect or publish your records and request that court, government, post office and others seal or restrict access to your files to protect your safety.
Search for your name on the Internet. Major search engines such as “Google” or “Yahoo” may have links to your contact information. Search for your name in quotation marks: “Full Name”. Check phone directory pages because unlisted numbers might be listed if you have given the number to anyone.

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