 |
- Talk with a friend or relative you trust about what's going on. They may be a good source of support.
- Contact your local domestic violence program to find out about laws and community resources (ie: shelters, counseling, legal assistance) before you need them. They can help you plan ways to stay safe.
- Ask your health care provider or a friend to take photographs of your injuries (ie: bruises, scratches, black eyes, etc.) and make sure that they are put in your medical records, or in a safe place with a written description of what happened. The information will make it easier for you if you decide to take legal action in the future, such as getting restraining order, pressing criminal charges, or obtaining child custody.
- Arrange a signal with a neighbor to let them know when you need help (ie: turning a porch light on during the day or pulling down a particular window shade).
- Keep some money stored in a secret place so that you have access to it in an emergency, or if you decide to leave; be sure to include some coins so you can make calls from a public phone if you need to. You can also pack a change of clothes (and personal care items, an extra set of glasses, important legal papers, etc.) for yourself and your children and ask a neighbor and/or friend to keep it, along with an extra set of keys, in case you need to leave quickly.
- Always call 911 if you are in danger of need help.
- If you decide to leave, take important papers with you (ie: birth certificates, passports, helath insurance documents, photo ID/drivers license, immunization records, checkbook, medication, food stamps, Social Security cards, etc.) for both you and your children.
There's NO Excuse
|
for Domestic Violence |
|
| Call Us - We're Here For You: (715)-362-6841 or
1-800-236-1222 |
|
|
|
What you can do to protect yourself...