Define Rape

Step by step. What To Do If Raped

Get to safety. Dialing 911 puts you into the care of first responders before doing *anything* and that includes going to the washroom--call 911.

1. Go to a safe place if you can.
2. Truthfully, in North America and in most of Europe you should report the crime. Do you want to talk to someone? Call RINJ anytime. Tel:+16477399279. Notify police immediately. Get into the care of first responders fast by calling 911. Reporting the crime can help you regain a sense of control.
3. Call RINJ. Tel:+16477399279. Call a friend, a family member, or someone else you trust who can be with you and give you support.
4. Preserve all physical evidence of the assault. Do not shower, bathe, douche, eat, drink, wash your hands, or brush your teeth until after you have had a medical examination. Save all of the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault.
5. Unless you have summoned police immediately to preserve the crime scene place each item of clothing in a separate paper bag. Do not use plastic bags. Do not clean or disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred.
6. Get medical care as soon as possible. Go to a hospital emergency department or a specialized forensic clinic that provides treatment for sexual assault survivors. Even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries, you should still have a medical examination and discuss with a health care provider the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections and the possibility of pregnancy resulting from the sexual assault. Having a medical exam is also a way for you to preserve physical evidence of a sexual assault.
7. If you suspect that you may have been given a "rape drug," ask the hospital or clinic where you receive medical care to take a urine sample. Drugs, such as Rohypnol and GHB, are more likely to be detected in urine than in blood.
8. Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances of the assault, including a description of the assailant.
9. Get information whenever you have questions or concerns. After a sexual assault, you have a lot of choices and decisions to make - e.g., about getting medical care, making a police report, and telling other people. You may have concerns about the impact of the assault and the reactions of friends and family members. You can get information by calling a rape crisis center, a hotline, or other victim assistance agencies.
10. Talk with a counselor who is trained to assist rape survivors. Counseling can help you learn how to cope with the emotional and physical impacts of the assault.
    

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