A sample guide to consider when Safety Planning

Please seek assistance for comprehensive safety planning from community/multicultural victim assistance workers in your community.

In an Emergency:

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger:

  • Call 911 and ask for the police, or call your community police.
  • Call VictimLink BC at 1-800-563-0808 (24/7 and provides service in more than 110 languages
  • Get medical help for injuries (emergency, walk –in clinic, family doctor) 

When planning to leave a domestic violence relationship your safety and that of your children is very important. Taking steps and measures to make it easier and safer is always important.  Your abusive partner or family may feel threatened and become more controlling and even more dangerous.

Plan when and how you would like to leave and who will be able to help you- family, friends, etc.

Please consider the guide checklist when planning to leave an abusive relationship.

Plan where you will go – transition house (make prior arrangements), friend or family, or call the Police.

What necessities will you take with you – consider having a bag ready and leave it somewhere you can access when you are ready to leave. 

Discuss your plan with a family member, friend, and colleague at work to alert them with a secret/safe word – in case you need to leave right away or have a change in your plan.

When you move into a safe place, consider changing the locks on windows and doors.  Consider sensor lights, electronic alarm and devices to keep you and your children safe.  

Consider making arrangements for pets.

Safe keep/take important documents – such as your and the children’s birth certificates, passports, immigration papers, marriage certificate or consider emailing copies to your family or friend. Consider printing / photocopying / scanning and keep it in a safety deposit box or with a family member or friend. 

Set-up an your email address and password independent of your partner and store documents and use it to correspond with supportive family, friends or workers.

Buy a cell phone with billing independent of your partner or consider a pay-as-you go option. Make sure your phone is charged. In the event you need to call the Police, you can call and not say anything, it will put them into action.

Change your regular route to work, dropping the children to school, visiting family and friends.

Have access to money – cash, a bank account and consider keeping some with your family or friend in case of need. Have bank statements emailed or mailed a secure email address/address.

Screen your calls and it will allow you to track calls and record abusive messages.

Educate your children around your safe word, how to remain safe and when they need to call the police.

Tech / Computer Safety Considerations

Turn off the webcam on your computer or use tape to cover the lens when you are not using it

Consider changing all passwords and login details using strong passwords that are not easily recognizable. 

Have a secure email address to share Police, lawyers, community services

Have a different password for different accounts

Cell phone / social media

Set your cell phone to auto lock after a short period of time and with a pin code to unlock it

Consider the tracking device on your vehicle.

Have emergency numbers programmed/saved into your phone. Use code names where necessary.

Minimize your social media presence if possible. Consider disallowing other people to tag you/your children in photos or locations.

Have the “Location” function off on your phone to avoid the tracking

Have your Bluetooth off and set your phone to “hidden”

Use all the privacy settings on social media and on every device.

Use non-identifying profile and cover photos, such as flowers or sceneries on your social media accounts.

Where possible use a different City as your location and do not include your place of work or education.