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What can I do immediately? Get to a safe place. Safety is always first. Try not to bathe, shower, brush your teeth or go to the bathroom. This is important for preserving evidence; however, if you already have bathed it is still possible to collect evidence. If possible, do not change your clothes. If you already have, put your clothes in a clean paper bag such as a grocery store bag and bring them with you to the emergency room. You can go to the emergency room. We can accompany you to the emergency room at any time after the assault. Our specially-trained volunteers and staff provide 24-hour accompaniment to hospitals within our service area. Call our hotline at 617-492-7273 or 1-800-841-8371 to ask for an advocate. If you choose to go on your own, preferably go to a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). If you have concerns about the hospital exam being billed on you insurance, or your parents insurance, you can address this at the hospital. If you have specific concerns about any questions that you may be asked, contact us prior to going to the hospital. Within 72 hours? Many perpetrators use drugs to render someone unconscious or unable to give consent. Whether you knew you took the drugs or not, it is never your fault. If you are concerned about having been drugged, a toxicology kit can be completed at a hospital emergency room that may be able to detect the rape drugs within 72 hours. If you want medication to prevent pregnancy or HIV infection, you must begin taking the medication within 72 hours. Medication to prevent other sexually transmitted diseases is also available. Go to a hospital or other health care provider to get these medications. Within 5 days? If you want evidence collected you must go to the emergency room within 5 days. If possible go to a SANE. If you think you want to make a police report, the sooner you report the better. Legally, you have three years to file a civil suit. Please contact us if you need help making this decision. You do not need to report to the police in order to get medical treatment or to have evidence collected. The evidence collection kit will be held anonymously at the state crime lab for 6 months, whether or not you make a police report. You can request to have the kit be held for a longer period of time. It will only be analyzed if you make a police report. You can get the results of the toxicology kit without reporting the assault. Get sexually transmitted infection (STI) prophylactic treatment. Start pregnancy prophylaxis “morning after pill” if appropriate. Go to a hospital or other health care provider to get these medications. Get support. No matter what decisions you make, know that you have done the best you can. You deserve to have all resources available to you. Contact us for help. Click here to download BARCC’s handbook for survivors and their families.
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