Empowerment through Safety Planning; Preventing Sexual Violence

Protect Yourself While on Vacation

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Tourist destinations can deceive you with a false sense of security. Monitor your drinks, know your limits, and find safety if uncomfortable. Consider a Plan B: familiarize yourself with surroundings, landmarks, and emergency contacts. Be prepared for possible scenarios: note the lodging address, have backup chargers and essential numbers, activate international service, access maps for driving, and know nearby hospital and police station contacts. Stay safe while enjoying your trip!

Protecting our Children

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Children: “3 out of 4 adolescents who have been sexually assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well”, National Institute of Justice Report.

 

Guide kids to personal safety with openness and simplicity. Be open, honest, and age-appropriate. Use simple language, role-play scenarios, and encourage questions.

 

Sexual Violence on Campus

 

“Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation”. The Association of American Universities (AAU) Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct.

 

College Safety Plan: 

 

• Attend parties with trusted friends, agree to watch out for each other, and leave together.

• Never leave your drink unattended; watch out for friends' drinks too. Drink from unopened containers or ones you saw being made.

• Monitor your alcohol intake and your friends' behavior. If feeling extremely tired or drugged, leave immediately and seek help.

• It's okay to lie to exit a discomforting situation or to help a friend. Safety comes first.

• Trust your instincts; if something feels off, it probably is. Educate yourself and your friends on social safety to be good allies.

 

For more information about safety planning visit RAINN.

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Actions that can lower the risk and protect yourself or a friend from experiencing sexual assault:

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Trust your instincts and put your safety first. Listen to your intuition and act accordingly if you feel uneasy or endangered. Remove yourself from the uncomfortable situation immediately and locate a safe spot. If you are pressed, it is better to make an excuse and go rather than expose yourself to worry or unease.

 

Protect your privacy on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare. Be cautious before disclosing every detail of your holiday plans. Even if you have privacy settings set, the information you share may become public. 

 

Familiarize yourself with the surrounding area. Know the location of your lodging and the best routes to your destinations. Keep local cab companies' numbers ready, and make sure you have enough money to cover a taxi ride home. Keep emergency contact information handy.

 

Make group safety and friendship a priority. Keep in touch with your companions throughout the night and leave as a group. If you must go off alone, inform your friends of your whereabouts.

 

Maintain your vigilance and avoid complacency. A vacation destination can give fellow visitors a false sense of security. Remember that other vacationers are essentially strangers. Don't rely on others' vigilance to keep you safe.

 

Make good use of your cell phone. If you ever find yourself in an awkward situation, quietly message a friend for help. Prepare a backup plan before leaving in case your phone's battery drains.

 

Drink responsibly and stay within your limitations. Always watch your drink as it is being made, and choose drinks in bottles wherever possible. If you lose sight of your drink or suspect tampering, throw it away and replace it. Seek emergency medical assistance if you or a friend appear overly intoxicated or suspect someone has been drugged.

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For more information contact RAINN