Medical Attention
Once you have secured your safety, consider receiving medical attention.
Immediate medical attention may be necessary to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections and possible pregnancy, as well as treat any wounds incurred.
What to do
The Stillwater community is very fortunate to have a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) program at Stillwater Medical Center (SMC). This service assures a victim of sexual assault will receive an examination and treatment by a SANE nurse. The nurse will perform the examination and stay with the victim throughout the treatment process.
The OSU Student Health Center does not have the SANE program and does not provide emergency care. The following information may be helpful to know regarding the SANE exam and advocacy services:
- In order to receive a sexual assault exam, you should go to Stillwater Medical Center ER. Once you are there, SMC will call a SANE nurse and a victim advocate to meet you. If you would like to have law enforcement notified, SMC can cal someone at any time. You do NOT have to notify law enforcement or participate in prosecution to receive a SANE exam at no charge to you. If you call the OSUVictim Advocate or law enforcement before you get to the ER, they will dispatch the SANE nurse and a police officer to meet you.
- Do not shower, bathe, douche, change or destroy clothes; do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum; do not take any medications; do not remove sheets from bed; do not straighten room or place of the incident. Preserving evidence is critical for criminal prosecution. If you do take evidence (i.e., sheets), you need to take it in a brown paper bag (not plastic). Plastic may contaminate evidence. Although an individual may not want to prosecute immediately after the incident, that choice may not be available later without credible evidence. The evidence collected can also be useful in the campus disciplinary process.
- Receiving a SANE exam does not commit you to a full prosecution, rather will preserve any potential evidence if you decide you would like to prosecute later. Regardless of whether they report the assault, all victims have the right to a medical forensic examination, crisis intervention, counseling, support groups and medical care.
- Upon arrival at Stillwater Medical Center, the victim will be taken to a private exam area. Only the nurse and possibly the advocate, if requested by the victim, will be in the exam room during the forensic exam. The police, nurse, and advocate will meet in another private room afterward or beforehand to take your statement, discuss resources, and answer questions.
- Once the SANE nurse has arrived, they will conduct the exam, which takes 1-2 hours. This exam will include a written account of the assault, a physical exam including a genital/pelvic exam (much like a PAP smear at your gynecologist), and prophylactic treatment (antibiotics) for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You will also be offered the morning-after pill (Plan B) if you choose. You will not see an emergency physician unless you request to, or the SANE nurse finds injuries that are in need of medical treatment. While performing the exam, the SANE nurse will collect forensic evidence for law enforcement and prosecution should you chose to pursue charges.
- The advocate will provide a packet of written materials to you. This material contains information about common reactions to sexual assault, follow-up medical needs, and support services. The advocate will encourage you to access any support services that you want/feel ready to utilize, such as counseling services available from the OSU Student Counseling Center or other community counseling resources.