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Steps You Can Take to Avoid Being a Victim

1. Statistics show that most sexual assaults involve alcohol and drugs. Ingestion of even a small amount can alter your perceptions and lower your defenses. Avoid excessive use of these substances.
2. Trust your instincts. if a situation makes you feel uneasy, leave.
3. If you go to a club or party, go with friends. Have an understanding that you will watch out for each other.
4. Never leave your drink unattended. It only takes a few seconds for someone to add a debilitating substances, commonly known as a date rape drug, to your beverage.
5. Never accept a drink from someone you don't know well. Bartenders and wait persons are the only strangers you should accept a drink from.
6. Never drink anything that looks or smells strange.
7. If you feel very drunk after having only a small amount of alcohol, don't take any chances. Tell your friend, the bartender, or waitperson that you think you may have been drugged.
8. Women are often conditioned to be "nice," trusting and to spare other people's feelings. If someone is interested in you and you don't feel the same way, be straightforward. Don't make excuses or try to spare their feelings. Just tell them you are not interested.
9. Be cautious about giving out your personal information or that of others. The less information a stranger or casual acquaintance has about you, the better your chances of not becoming a victim.
10. If you think you are being stalked, contact local law enforcement immediately.
11. People are not always honest about themselves. Always keep this in mind.
12. Don't get into a vehicle with someone you don't know well, because you become a prisoner if that person has negative intentions.
13. Avoid drinking from punch bowls.
14. If you suspect that you or someone else has ingested a date rape drug or sedative-like substance, get help immediately. Call 911 or have a friend help you get to a hospital. Tell medical staff what you suspect, so the appropriate tests and samples can be taken for evidence purposes and proper treatment. Date rape drugs do not stay in the body for long and delay may mean the loss of valuable evidence.
15. If you a partying at a private location, remember that video cameras or tape recorders may be set up and operating even if you can't see them.
16. Don't hesitate to call the police for help. Don't feel you would be bothering them, or that your situation is not serious enough. They would much rather prevent a tragedy than respond to one.

Tips provided to Kate Flora and Deputy Chief Joe Loughlin by:
Lisa Beecher
Chief of Police
University of Southern Maine

For tips on internet safety, see the following links:
For adults http://www.haltabuse.org/resources/online.shtml

For kids/teens http://www.haltabusektd.org/resources/online.shtml

IM, blog and chat safety tips: http://www.haltabusektd.org/resources/im.shtml

And check out the excellent book, Net Crimes and Misdemeanors by J.A. Hitchcock
http://www.netcrimes.net/order.html
http://www.netcrimes.net/netcrimesblog.html