The COVID-19 pandemic has forcefully made people adjust to the new normal. You have come out of your daily routine, have to work from home, you can’t meet your friends or send your kids to school. These losses are supposed to keep you safe and put a stop to the spread of COVID-19.
But, it has also affected the connection between your family networks and community. This disconnect decreases the vital emotional support that is necessary for domestic violence victims. In addition, being isolated in your house with an abusive partner or spouse during these challenging times can make you feel less safe than usual.
On average, nearly 20 individuals per minute are physically assaulted by their partner in the United States. This shows that more than 10 million women and men are abused in a year.
For many domestic violence victims, abuse may not be constant. But when your partner’s behavior can’t be predicted, it can make you feel like you are constantly walking on eggshells. Handling your self-care and looking after your children or pets while being isolated together can be a constant source of stress for you.
If this is something that you are experiencing, we have brought a few domestic violence safety tips as part of our domestic violence awareness plan.
Put The Correct Numbers On Speed-dial
Use a personal safety device for abuse victims and make sure you have all the following numbers on speed-dial:
- The national helpline for domestic violence victims, i.e., if your country has one
- Helpline for the local domestic violence shelter
- Local police helpline
- The number of your friend, family member, or even a co-worker who helps you and can be an eye witness if need be.
If you don’t have a safety device, you can use Silent Beacon.
Why Pick Silent Beacon?
For people finding ways on how to stay safe against domestic violence, this is a blessing in disguise.
The Silent Beacon is a Bluetooth 4.0-compliant personal safety gadget that connects to any smartphone, watch, PC, or tablet with a Bluetooth 4.0 connection. Simply press the Silent Beacon button. It’s your 24/7 guardian that lets you communicate with your loved ones using push notifications, phone call, text message, or email.
Don’t worry about grabbing your phone. A single click can immediately notify your emergency contact and provide your location in a few seconds. You may call for help without having to touch your phone, send alerts to all of your emergency contacts simultaneously, and share your location.
Have A ‘Safe’ Word Or Phrase
Chances are that you may not be able to text or talk much in an emergency or volatile scenario. Create a “safe” word or phrase with your close friend/colleague/family member who agrees to have their phone on standby for any emergency calls/texts. Keep it brief and straightforward.
Keep Your Phone And Some Money On You At All Times
Ensure that your cell phone has a full battery at all times. You’ll never know when something may happen, so having a fully charged phone on hand is essential. Especially if you know, you’ll be alone with your abuser.
Also, keep money on you in case you need to flee for your life.
Arrange For An Ally In Advance
If you’re going to spend the holidays with extended family and you know someone who would believe and support you, contact that person ahead of time. And seek assistance and intervention should a conflict arise.
This opportunity may not be available to everyone. Still, it’s definitely something to think about if visiting your own parents, siblings, aunts, or uncles.
Always Have An Audience
As a way to keep the abuse at bay, schedule regular visits with extended family and friends. At its finest, being in the company will keep the violence in check. If violence does occur, it will take place in public, allowing others to intervene or at least have a few witnesses.
Defuse it
According to one police officer, walking away from a potentially dangerous scenario might help to alleviate the abuse and prevent deaths for a short time. To distract your abuser with food, alcohol, or an athletic event, prepare ahead of time with an ally so that you have support.
Have an escape plan
When you aren’t at your own house, look around for possible means of escape within the property itself. Even better, make a strategy for getting away with the assistance of as many individuals as possible. If there’s a high possibility that your abuser will be drunk or on drugs during the holidays, it might be your chance to flee the situation.
Carry Silent Beacon so if an abuser ambushes you, you can press the panic button quickly and inform the police. You can call a national domestic hotline for further help, inform family or friends of the situation to brainstorm a safety plan. Consider a protection order against abuser, take self defense class, and document abuse for legal evidence.
So, we hope you will follow our safety tips to keep yourself safe from abuse. Remember planning ahead is always a wise move.
Stay safe!
