If you’re planning to leave an abusive relationship, and you’re at all worried about escalation, it’s important to have an emergency plan in place that you share with trusted people in your life. We don’t need to do everything by ourselves. Lean on the people you trust and let them help support you.
A friend of mine created an emergency plan using the outline below, and it gave me such peace of mind as a friend that I would be able to help her in case she was in need. I’ve used her plan to create a template that I’ve shared with other friends considering leaving.
There are a lot of things to consider when making a plan to leave. What I’m talking about today is creating a document to make sure trusted people in your life have important information in case you are in need.
Not only does this help you, but it gives people around you a way to help if needed. Your loved ones care about you and want to see you safe. Let them help.
Below I’ve outlined what you might want to include in your plan. You can copy/paste this information into a document, copy it into a notebook, or you can also check out this google doc template I created (be cautious clicking on the link if your abuser has access to your email/viewed files on your google drive). No matter what, always choose safety. Do what will work for YOU.
Google Doc-Downloadable Emergency Plan
This is only a starting point for creating an emergency plan. If you’re looking for more help in creating an exit plan, including finding housing, arranging your finances, and answers to your more specific questions about how to leave, etc., check out: https://www.speakyourtruth.today/make-a-plan
Emergency Plan
Your Contact Information
- Name
- Home address
- Place of work
- Date of Birth
- Vehicle types, license plates
- Code to get into home/garage
- Any important medical info
Children’s Info
- Names
- Date of Birth
- Daycare Info
- Pediatrician
- Important medical info
Emergency Code Phrase
- Determine a phrase or word that only you can use over text or phone if you need someone to call 911 in case you are unable to.
Local Police Department Info
- Locate your local police department phone number.
- List any previous incident reports on file with the police-where they are located, report numbers…
Safe Places to Go
- List 2-3 safe places you can go. Mark whether your spouse knows of this location or not. Include a local fire station/police department if nearby.
Emergency Contacts
- List the contact info of the people you are sending this information to as well as anyone else who can be contacted in case of emergency. Share this only with people you wholeheartedly trust to guard this information safely-you don’t want to risk this information being released to your abuser. That may be 1 or 2 people, and that’s okay.
Is there anything else you would add to this list?
Love it! Emergency plans are important and are often a good first step when you’re in between leaving and staying.