Times of Crisis
Whether or not you feel able to leave an abuser, there are things you can do to make yourself and your family safer.
IN AN EMERGENCY
IN AN EMERGENCY
If you are at home & you are being threatened or attacked:
- Stay away from the kitchen (the abuser can find weapons, like knives, there).
- Stay away from bathrooms, closets or small spaces where the abuser can trap you.
- Get to a room with a door or a window to escape.
- Get to a room with a phone to call for help; lock the abuser outside if you can.
- Call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away for help.
- Think about a neighbor or friend you can run to for help.
- If a police officer comes, tell him/her what happened; get his/her name & badge number if you can.
- Get medical help if you are hurt.
- Take pictures of bruises or injuries and keep them somewhere safe.
- Call a domestic violence program or shelter such as R.E.A.C.H. of Macon County and ask them to help you make a
safety plan (<<<Click to make your own safety plan)
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AT HOME
- Learn where to get help; memorize emergency phone numbers
- Keep a phone inside a room which you can lock from the inside; if you can, get a cellular phone that you keep with you at all times.
- If the abuser has moved out, change the locks on your doors; get locks on windows.
- Plan an escape route out of your home; teach it to your children.
- Think about where you would go if you need to escape.
- Ask your neighbors to call the police if they see the abuser at your house; create a signal for them to call the police, for example, if the phone rings twice and then the person hangs up, or a certain shade is pulled down or a light is on in a certain room.
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HOW TO MAKE YOUR CHILDREN SAFER
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HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF OUTSIDE THE HOME
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HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF SAFER AT WORK
- Keep a copy of your court order at work
- Give a picture of the abuser to security and friends at work
- Tell your supervisors - see if they can make it harder for the abuser to find you
- Don't go to lunch alone
- Ask a security guard to walk you to your car or to the bus
- If the abuser contacts you at work, save voice mails and save e-mails
- Your employer may be able to help you find community resources
USING THE LAW TO HELP YOU
Protection or Restraining Orders
In most places, the Judge can:
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If you are worried about any of the following, make sure you:
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CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
- Show the prosecutor your court orders
- Show the prosecutor any medical records related to injuries, pictures, or visits related to the domestic or sexual violence.
- Tell the prosecutor the name of anyone who is helping you (a victim advocate or a lawyer)
- Tell the prosecutor about any witnesses to injuries or abuse
- Ask the prosecutor to notify you ahead of time if the abuser is getting out of jail
BE SAFE AT THE COURTHOUSE
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THERE IS HOPE
REACH provides trained advocates 24/7 to assist you in times of crisis. All calls are strictly confidential!
Macon County, NC Hotline (828) 369-5544
Jackson County, NC Hotline (828) 586-8969
*For emergencies requiring police or medical response, please dial 9-1-1
Macon County, NC Hotline (828) 369-5544
Jackson County, NC Hotline (828) 586-8969
*For emergencies requiring police or medical response, please dial 9-1-1