A Guide for Friends & Family of Sexual Violence Survivors

The period immediately following an assault is emotionally charged, confusing, and frightening. If you are assisting a sexual assault victim, it is important to addess the following topics as soon as it is appropriate for the victim.

Physical Safety: Make sure the victim is in a safe place. Encourage her or him to call or be with someone she or he trusts for emotional support. Contact your local rape crisis center at for free and confidential counseling and support.

Evidence: Valuable evidence of the assault may remain on the victim's body and clothes. Encourage the victim not to eat, drink, smoke, comb her or his, shower, urinate, defecate, or douche before going to the emergency room. However, if she or he has already done these things, don't let this stop her or him from seeking medical care. Also, if possible, have the victim place the clothes she or he was wearing during the assault in a paper bag and take them to the hospital with her or him.

Medical Attention: Doctors can check for injuries that may not be visable. Hospital staff can also treat the victim for possible STD's and provide medication to prevent pregnancy (emergency contraception). Hospital staff may also perform a rape exam to collect evidence in case the victim decides to prosecute.

Reporting the Assault: Whether or not the victim decides to prosecute, ask her or him to consider notifying police of the assault. Pressing charges may help the victim feel empowered after the assault.

Counseling: The victim has been through a traumatic experience and may need help dealing with her or his feelings. Call a rape crisis center near you.

 

A Guide for Friends & Family of Sexual Violence Survivors (Part Two)