Victims of domestic abuse have certain avenues they can take to escape their abuser without placing themselves in even more danger, said Kim Heard, project coordinator with Longmont Ending Domestic Violence Initiative, or LEVI.
LEVI works with 25 groups in Boulder County to educate people about domestic violence and offers services to those trying to leave abusive relationships.
Among the techniques Heard suggests include:
- Victims, who establish one in advance, can use a “safe” word to alert family and friends to call the police. Victims can use the word in a conversation or text to alert others they need help.
- Use phone apps that can be hidden to mask calls for help in case an abuser goes through a victim’s phone regularly. The Aspire News App appears to be a news app, but features a help setting to aid in a victim reaching out to an emergency contact. Circle 6 is another free app that allows users to set up six emergency contacts.
- When a victim calls 911 and orders a pizza, that often can alert a dispatcher to an abusive situation. “If the 911 operator realizes what is going on they may ask the victim if they are in danger and if the abuser is there,” Heard said.
- Victims ready to leave a relationship should collect their and their children’s ID information such as birth certificates, passports and driver’s license and keep them in a safe place. An escape bag also should include necessities like medications and clothes and be kept hidden from the abuser, Heard said.
