What to Do If You Have Been Sexually Assaulted
If you are a victim/survivor of sexual violence, click here to find about how to get help and where to go from here.
Find a safe environment away from the person who violated you. You can ask a trusted friend to stay with you.
Get medical attention immediately. Even with no physical injuries, it is important to determine the risks of sexually transmitted infections (STI's) and pregnancy. GT Police Department can take you to Grady Hospital: 404-894-2500. Emergency contraception is available at GT Health Services: 404-894-1420 and the Women's Clinic: 404-894-1434, as well as local clinics.
Preserve evidence - Don't bathe, shower, douche, change clothes, brush teeth, chew gum, or eat/drink anything. Write down all the details you can recall about the incident.
Ask the hospital to conduct a rape kit exam. This will help to preserve evidence if you choose to report the incident, now or later.
If you suspect you may have been drugged, ask that a urine sample be collected. The sample will need to be analyzed by a forensic lab.
If you want to report the assault, notify the police immediately. You can call the GT Police Department: 404-894-2500. You can report the assault even if you choose not to press charges.
If the victim-survivor or the perpetrator is a student at Georgia Tech, please contact the Dean of Students Office: 404-894-6387. The Dean of Students can serve as an advocate for students reporting incidents of sexual assault. They can provide resources and referrals for victims. They also enforce judicial actions to respond to sexual assault.
Talk with a counselor who is trained to assist rape victims. You can call the Georgia Tech Counseling Center: 404-894-2575 to find on campus counselors or to obtain a referral to community counselor.
Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline, operated by RAINN, for free, confidential counseling, 24 hours a day: 1-800-656-HOPE.
Remember that it's not your fault.
Recognize that healing from sexual violence takes time. Give yourself the time you need.
Know that it's never too late to call. Even if the assault happened years ago, the National Sexual Assault Hotline can still help. Many victims do not realize they need help until months or years later: 1-800-656-HOPE.
For more information, you can read the "How do Victims Respond to Sexual Violence" section of this web site to find out about some feelings and behaviors experienced by survivors of sexual violence.
Taken from The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) http://www.rainn.org/
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