If You Have Been Sexually Assaulted:

• Go to a safe place. Call someone  you trust for emotional support.
• Call the Statewide Toll-Free Helpline:
  1-800-871-7741.
  Note: If you are calling from a cell phone in
  Franklin County please dial
  1-866-740-9516
  or you will be routed to your phone’s LOCAL calling area, which might possibly be another rape crisis center.
• 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  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 1-800-871-7741 for a crisis center in Maine near you.