What To Do After You've Been Sexually Assaulted
- Get to a safe place.
- Call someone who can help you: a friend, the Police (000), a Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA), or the After Hours Sexual Assault Crisis Line 1800 806 292, which services all CASAs throughout Victoria after hours.
- Get medical attention. The CASA or After Hours Sexual Assault Crisis Line would arrange for you to undergo a medical examination and to receive the necessary medical treatment. If you are in the country you can go to the nearest hospital. Even if you feel embarrassed about your injuries, it is very important to receive medical assistance. Hospital staff are accustomed to dealing with injuries to the penis or anus and they are trained to do so as professionally as they would treat a broken arm or a heart attack. Even if you don't seem to be seriously hurt, you may have hidden, internal injuries that can become infected or get worse with time. Furthermore, symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases can lie dormant for a long time, but early medical attention may prevent future outbreaks. If you are concerned about HIV infection, talk to the CASA counsellor, or the hospital Doctor about the possibility of exposure and the need for testing.
- Consider avoiding showering, drinking, eating or changing your clothes. These activities can destroy physical evidence that could be useful if police decide to prosecute.
- Write down everything that you remember happening, with as much detail as possible. This can help you to cope with the situation but may also be helpful in any legal action you might decide to take.
- Remember...You Are Not to Blame... Even If:
- Your attacker was an acquaintance, date, friend or partner.
- You have been sexually intimate with that person or with others before.
- You were drinking or using drugs.
- You froze and did not or could not say 'no', or were unable to fight back physically.