Build a Safety Plan

A safety plan is a personalized set of steps that may help reduce risk before, during, or after a dangerous situation. You know your circumstances best. No checklist can account for every risk, and you do not have to leave before you are ready. Leaving or preparing to leave can sometimes increase danger, so consider creating your plan with a trained advocate whenever possible.

Plan for an urgent moment

• Identify exits and places where you may be able to leave more easily.

• Choose one or more trusted people, a code word, and a way to ask for help without explaining everything.

• Keep important phone numbers somewhere you can reach them even if your phone is unavailable.

• Think through how children, dependents, or pets can be included without increasing danger.

Prepare essentials, if it is safe

• Consider copies of identification, birth certificates, medications, keys, financial information, court papers, and important contact information.

• If possible, keep copies or a small emergency bag somewhere the person causing harm cannot access, such as with a trusted person.

• Decide where you could go and how you might get there. Shelter availability, transportation, eligibility, and accommodations vary, so confirm details directly with the provider.

Include work, school, and daily routines

• Decide who may need to know enough to help, such as a supervisor, school contact, neighbor, medical professional, or advocate.

• Review pickup permissions, emergency contacts, transportation, and routines that may reveal your location.

• Revisit the plan as circumstances change.

Plan for digital safety

• If possible, use a safer device or account to seek help.

• Review location sharing, shared passwords, family plans, cloud backups, connected devices, and account-recovery settings.

• Downloads, browser history, messages, photographs, and documents may remain visible on a device or synced account. Sudden account changes can sometimes alert another person, so make changes only when you believe it is safe.

• Records may be accessed by others or requested in legal proceedings. An advocate or qualified attorney can help you think through privacy and documentation risks.

Get individualized help

Call 800-799-SAFE (7233), text START to 88788, or visit thehotline.org to connect with the National Domestic Violence Hotline for confidential safety planning and local referrals. If you are in immediate or life-threatening danger, call 911 when it is safe to do so.

This page is educational and is not individualized safety, legal, medical, or mental-health advice. The Fooled No More Foundation does not provide emergency response and cannot guarantee safety or service availability.