What to do if you or someone you know is assaulted:
- Get to a safe place. Call 911 if necessary.
- Call to speak with a law enforcement officer. It is never too late to report a sexual assault.
- Go to the hospital. You may have serious injuries that you are not aware of, and you can receive medication to prevent pregnancy or STD’s.
- Do not bathe, douche, brush your teeth, use the restroom, or change your clothes before going to the hospital. You may destroy important evidence.
- Try to have a support person with you, such as a friend, relative, or sexual assault advocate when you go to the hospital. They can help you remember important information you will receive.
Remember – It is never the survivor’s fault!
Did you know:
- Rape and sexual assault happen to females and males of all ages, from infancy through the senior years.
- Rape is an act of violence, power and control over another person, it is NOT about sex.
- 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
- A survivor is not at fault for the rape, even if she/he was drunk, doing drugs, in a dangerous area, or had previous consensual sex with the attacker. It is ALWAYS the offender’s fault.