Don’t tell your partner you’re thinking of leaving.
Take your children with you.
Plan your emergency exits.
Keep emergency phone numbers with you at all times.
Set aside money for a taxi, and quarters or pre-paid phone cards for payphones.
Take valuable documents with you such as passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, immigration papers, OHIP card, SIN card, bank books and bank cards.
Make photocopies of all of your important documents and leave them with a person you trust.
Bring documents that prove you have been living at the same address with your partner.
Take all prescriptions and medicines – both yours and your children’s.
Open a bank account in your name or in the name of a person you trust. Make sure that bank statements are not mailed to your home.
Save as much cash as you can.
Hide extra clothing, house keys, car keys, money etc., at a friend’s house.
If you have a pet whose welfare you’re concerned about, take it to a friend’s house or animal rescue charity in your area, such as Ontario SPCA or Safe Pet Ontario. Many of these agencies have a network of ‘foster’ parents to provide temporary homes until more longer-term arrangements can be made.
Ensure any phone locating services on your cell phone are turned off.
Have an emergency suitcase packed if possible.
Include some special toys and comforts for your children.
The following is a suggested safety plan for women.
Please note that all of the information may not apply to everyone,
but it is designed so that one may extract what they feel is helpful.
