Pathways Courses - It Won't Happen to Me:

It Won't Happen to Me:
Substance Abuse-Related Violence Against Women for Anyone Concerned About The Issues

Module 8: After a Rape or Sexual Assault - Page 1 of 10

Rape Icon The following guidelines come from various sources on battery and sexual assault.^1-3

Go to a friend's house or someplace where you will feel safe and will not be alone.
Do not shower or bathe, as physical samples will help identify the attacker or provide evidence if you decide to press charges later.
Seek a doctor's help as soon as possible so that pictures can be taken and wounds can be treated.
Get counseling as soon as possible because it is natural to have a fear of being alone, fear of men, and fear of sexual problems. For a start, you can call the rape crisis hotline in your community. Counseling will help you recover from the ordeal.
Do not blame yourself. This is the most important thing to remember. The rape was not your fault. Your behavior did not cause it--the rapist did. Alcohol use did not cause it--the rapist did. A woman's drinking does not justify sexual assault. It cannot be used as a defense in court.

A condensed version of this module is available as a Fact Sheet in both HTML, PDF Adobe Acrobat PDF Icon and PDF Español formats.