At home: Lock your doors, have adequate lighting and don't let
anyone know you live alone. (*Webmistress's note: Never open the door to
anyone you don't know or don't trust. A locking storm door is a great thing
to have also.)
(reprinted from Catalyst, the newsletter of the Houston Area Women's Center. Call 713-528-6798 to help, or if you need help in the Houston area call 713-528-2121)
To Protect Yourself:
At home: Lock your doors, have adequate lighting and don't let
anyone know you live alone. (*Webmistress's note: Never open the door to
anyone you don't know or don't trust. A locking storm door is a great thing
to have also.)
While walking: Walk confidently and assertively; have your keys
in your hand so your house or car can be opened immediately and stay alert
to who is around you. (* When leaving a public place, if it seems like someone
is following you out, turn around and go back in it it is safe to do so.
Get a security escort at a mall if concerned about your safety. Many apartments
will also send an officer to make sure you get from the parking lot to your
apartment safely if you phone ahead)
When driving: When practical, drive on well lighted streets;
keep windows and doors locked and valuables out of sight and keep your car
in good condition to avoid breakdowns. (* If you can afford a cell phone,
even a budget one to be used only in case of emergencies, get one. Especially
if you drive or travel a lot. Keep it charged and with you or it's no good.
Think about things like getting gas and groceries, or washing your car,
sometime other than late at night. A woman in Houston was shot to death
at a car wash here in Houston close to midnight just recently by teenage
boys who were demanding her purse. She was a friend of a woman I work with
and had several children. And never, ever, leave your car unlocked/or running
while you run into a convenience store or to pay for gas, etc.)
Don't bathe or douche. Don't destroy evidence by douching, bathing,
washing hands, changing linens or clothes.
Call the police. Reporting the crime enables the police to take an
immediate description and collect evidence.
Get medical attention immediately. Three important reasons why: Tests
for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy; Physical or emotional injury
may have happened requiring professional attention; Prompt, careful collection
of specimens and physical evidence will help police apprehend the attacker.
Seek counseling. Call your local Rape Crisis Hotline (in Houston call
713-528-RAPE) or discuss your feelings with friends, family or community
counselors. Do not try to cope alone.