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What to do if you have been raped?

After a Rape…

·    Find a safe environment anywhere away from the attacker.

·    Call a trusted friend or relative to stay with you or call your local Rape Crisis. U of A students can access help through the STAR Central Office of the Pat Walker Health Center during normal business hours. Locally, SARPA (formerly known as Rape Crisis offers a 24-hour hotline at (479) 927-1020

·    Preserve evidence of the attack – do NOT bathe, shower, douche, eat, drink, or brush your teeth. If possible, try not to eliminate any waste. Any of these behaviors can wash away evidence.

·    Any clothing, if not still being worn, and any bedding or throw rugs should be preserved and not laundered. These items may contain evidence and be useful if you decide to report the crime.

·    Get immediate medical attention. Even with no apparent physical injuries, it is important to determine the risks of STDs, STIs, and pregnancy. Sometimes there can be injuries that you may not be aware of.

·    To preserve forensic evidence, have a forensic medical exam done. Locally this may be done at Washington Regional Medical Center or at another facility of your choosing.

·    If you suspect you may have been drugged (that is a "date rape" drug may have been used), ask that a urine sample be collected. The sample can be analyzed later by a forensic lab. 

·    Write down all the details you can recall about the attack and the attacker. This information may be useful later.

·    Report the rape to law enforcement authorities. Remember, you have been a victim of a crime and it was not your fault for what the perpetrator chose to do to you.

·    Seek help with processing the many feelings that come after a rape. A counselor or therapist can help you understand the process of healing 

·   Remember it wasn't your fault.

·    Recognize that healing from rape takes time. Give yourself the time you need.

·    Know that it's never too late to call for help. Even if the attack happened years ago, Sexual Assault Hotlines and Victim Advocacy Services can still help. Many victims do not realize they need help until months or years later.

·    If you are a college student, talk to a professional at your school’s health services, student affairs, or counseling services and learn about available resources to assist you during this difficult time. At the University of Arkansas, the STAR Central Office offers advocacy services to help college students' needs.

Seeking Care…..

Immediate medical care should be sought, even if physical injuries are not apparent. Sometimes there can be internal injuries, as well as it is important to determine the risk for sexually transmitted diseases/infections, and/or pregnancy. The Pat Walker Health Center, University Health Services can provide students with general medical evaluation, but cannot provide forensic medical exams.

A forensic medical exam not only provides assurance of your physical health through medical evaluation, but also allows for evidence to be collected and preserved so that it may later be used if it is decided to prosecute the suspected rapist.

Forensic medical exams are available through a specialized program that focuses on the victim’s needs at Washington Regional Medical Center. To use this program, go to WRMC Emergency Department.

What happens later after being raped?

After a sexual assault, a person can experience a wide range of reactions. It is extremely important to note that there is no one single response. Some rape survivors respond immediately, others may have delayed reactions. Some rape survivors appear to be affected by the assault for a long time, whereas others appear to recover rather quickly. The stages that occur after a rape are defined as Rape Trauma Syndrome.

In the early stages, many rape victims report feeling shock, confusion, anxiety, and/or numbness. Sometimes they will experience feelings of denial. In other words, they may not fully acknowledge what has happened to them or they may downplay the intensity of the experience. This reaction may be more common among victims who are assaulted by someone they know.

Although survivors of sexual assault can experience a wide variety of symptoms, they do not have to suffer in silence. Help is available and should be sought. STAR Central provides advocacy services to help people identify available resources.

All contacts and survivor

services are confidential.