Prevention Education

If you live with someone who is abusive to you (you are exposed to domestic violence):

• Try not to isolate yourself from your social environment, maintain close relationships with your friends (girlfriends), relatives, neighbors, etc.;
• Pay attention to the cases when this person shows violence in order to prevent such situations in advance and to protect yourself and children;
• Determine for yourself a place in the house that will be far from places where there are items that can be used as weapons (for example, a kitchen), and at the same time will be close to the exit from the apartment (house); in a situation when violence is used against you, either hide in such a place or leave the apartment;
• Keep in mind sos signs and the phones of the police, crisis centers for women, neighbors, friends, whom you can address when you are attacked;
• Think about how you can contact the police; do not forget that you can call the police at any time free of charge;
• Tell friends and neighbors you trust about your situation; agree on signs by which they can understand that you are in danger; agree with them what will need to be done if you give such a sign. You may also get acquainted your friends and relatives with signs of a suicide prevention program to prevent such a situation beforehand;
• Rehearse behavior in the moment of danger with your children; persuade them not to interfere in violent situations; work out special words that at the moment of danger will mean that the children must call someone for help or leave the apartment (house);
• Convince your children that violence can never be justified, never think that you or your children are the cause of violence;
• Practice with children how to quickly leave the apartment (house);
• Try to store items that can be used as weapons (knife, etc.) in closed or hard to reach safe places;
• Try not to use things that can be used to strangle, i.e. shawl, scarf, thick chains;
• Under any pretext that does not arouse suspicion, leave the apartment (house); in this way, you will accustom the violent person to the fact that you are not constantly in the apartment (house);
• Communicate regularly by phone with your counselor or crisis room staff where you get cci education to exchange views on your situation;
• Always hold your mobile phone within reach.