- Go to a safe place.
Call someone you trust for emotional support. In PA, contact your
local rape crisis center at 1-888-772-PCAR.
- Do not shower. Valuable
evidence of the assault remains on your body and clothes. Do not
eat, drink, smoke, comb your hair, shower, urinate, defecate,
or douche before going to the emergency room. However, if you
have already done these things, please don't let this stop you
from seeking medical care. Also, do not change clothes after the
assault. Take a change of clothes with you to the emergency room.
However, if you have already done so, place the clothes you were
wearing during the assault in a paper bag and take them to the
hospital with you.
- Seek medical attention.
A doctor or nurse can check for injuries that may not be visible.
Hospital staff can also treat you for possible STDs and provide
medication to prevent pregnancy (Emergency Contraception). Hospital
staff may also perform a rape exam to collect evidence.
- If you believe you
were given a date rape drug wait to urinate until you arrive at
the hospital. However, if you can't wait, collect your first urine
in a clean container with a lid and take it to the emergency room
or police station with you. Also, be sure to tell the emergency
room personnel your symptoms and that you believe you were given
a date rape drug so they can take the necessary samples.
Victims of sexual
violence also have the choice to . . .
- Report the assault
to the police. Consider notifying the police of the assault. Doing
so may help you feel empowered after the assault and may alert
the police to the perpetrator. Please be aware that if you go
to the hospital, staff will most likely report the assault to
the police. It is up to you, however, to decide if you want to
talk to the officer or not.
- Seek counseling. You
have been through a traumatic experience and may need help dealing
with your feelings. Call 1-888-772-PCAR for a crisis center in
PA near you.
 Crime
Victims Compensation
The Victims Compensation
Assistance Program (VCAP), a program of the Office of Victims’ Services
of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, may
cover many costs resulting from the
assault.
At the hospital you
can choose to have your insurance billed or the VCAP fund billed
for the sexual assault forensic exam
and related
medications. Whatever amount your insurance or VCAP pays will
be considered payment in full to the hospital. If you don't
have insurance,
the hospital will bill VCAP for the exam and you can file expense
forms for the other costs. You should never receive a bill
for the exam.
VCAP may also reimburse
you for other medical care; replacement of health care items
lost or damaged during the crime; counseling;
child care and transportation to get to counseling sessions
or doctor visits; and income lost from missing work due to
the assault.
To be eligible you must cooperate with law enforcement and
have at least $100 in out-of-pocket expenses. For adults
age 60 and
older, there is no minimum out-of-pocket loss. For more details
on eligibility and to obtain a form, call the Pennsylvania
Victims Compensation Program at 1-800-233-2339 or log on
to http://www.pccd.state.pa.us/pccd/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=571196.
Your local rape crisis center can also provide you with more
information.
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