by Sexual violence affects men, women, and children of all ages. Sexual assault is when a predator makes sexual contact by forcing, intimidating, or threatening someone when they do not agree to it. Sometimes people cannot agree to it because they are children, or they are disabled. People can’t protect themselves at all times but read below for some tips on preventing abuse from taking place.
- Know what’s going on around you.
To protect yourself from sexual abuse, visit TheGomezFirm.com for more information. There are so many distractions today that people aren’t aware of their surroundings. This is particularly a problem with cell phones. It is best not to wear two earphones in public. This makes it difficult to know what is happening around you. Try to stay off of the phone, don’t text while walking, and keep your eyes open around you. This is especially true when being alone in unknown public areas.
While it’s always best to walk places with friends, if someone is alone, they should stay alert, keep watching the environment. Move quickly, and with a purpose. Don’t stop and linger places. Stick to areas that have lots of people, even if this means it is not the shortest route to take.
- Watch your drink.
While this may seem like an old trick, there are still predators that wait until someone isn’t looking, and then slip drugs into their drink. If you need to be away from your drink for any amount of time, for example, to go to the bathroom, buy a new drink. It’s a small cost to pay to prevent being taken advantage of.
- Stay with friends.
Don’t go places alone. This may seem like a simple tip, but if you go somewhere with a friend, don’t leave without the friend. Be loyal to the friends that you went to the party with. If a friend gets too intoxicated to stay at a party, take them home.
- Don’t always share locations.
Social media apps make it easy and fun to ‘check in’ at locations so that people can see where people are and what they are doing. Unfortunately, this provides too much information to predators. If they see that someone is not at their residence, they may decide to invade the home, and they could be waiting at home to make an attack. It’s best to post your locations after events are already over.
- Trust your feelings.
If something doesn’t feel right, it may not be. IF an environment, situation, or person does not feel right, be sure to leave. There are times that we look back on and wish we had listened to our gut. Usually, we have more insight than we think. Let people know that you are on your way to an event, or that you are coming home. This way, if you do not show up somewhere, people know to look for you. Don’t isolate yourself.
If you or someone you know has been abused, it is never too late to talk to someone. Go to a safe place and call 911 right away. Even if you feel fine, it is important to get medical attention as soon as possible. Doctors can collect evidence and treat you for any injuries. They can also provide you with additional help, such as advocacy care, which may be helpful.
