The following is an excerpt from A Guide to Surviving Sexual Assault

as adapted by GMU Sexual Assault Services, 1995

1) Get to a safe place.

2) Contact someone who can help you: a friend, the police, the Sexual Assault

Services Coordinator-any or all of the above.

3) Do not shower, drink or eat, douche, or change your clothes. These activi-

ties destroy important physical evidence in the event that you decide to

prosecute the assailant.

4) Get medical attention at a hospital emergency room right away. Even if you

don't want to report this to the police, you may have injuries you are not

aware of. You may want to do what you can to prevent pregnancy or sexually

transmitted diseases. Physical evidence can be collected up to 72 hours

after the assault (24 hours after for oral or anal penetration). However,

some evidence may still be collected after 72 hours. If you agree to

report the assault to the police, the hospital will provide an exam which

will also collect the evidence and will be paid for by the state.

5) The police can take you to the hospital or meet you there.

6) As soon as you have a quiet moment, write down everything that you remember[37;0m

happening, with as much detail as possible. This will help with your own

healing process and in any legal action you might decide to take.

7) Remember: the assault was not your fault.