Has the attacker gone?

If not, are you able to make yourself safe, contact a trusted friend or family member, or call the police?

If you are in danger, you should call 999 immediately.

However, whether you choose to report to the police or not is wholly your choice. Whatever you decide is okay.

We can offer information and options to help inform your decisions but whatever you decide to do, we will support you, respect you and believe you.

It's normal to be in shock, so you may be unable to feel any pain right now.

Check if you are bleeding - if you have more than a very minor cut or graze, or if you have banged or been hit on the head, you may need to call 999 or go to A&E right away to get medical assistance.

If you were unconscious, even just for a short amount of time, you should go to A&E.

If possible, contact a trusted friend or family member to go to A&E with you.

• Report the rape or assault as soon as possible - unfortunately, delay in reporting may go against your case.
• If possible, tell a trusted friend or family member what has happened as soon as you can -  a witness to your distress can be helpful.
• Do not shower/bathe, tidy or change/clean your clothing - valuable forensic evidence may be destroyed (this can also diminish after 72 hours).
• Do not take any alcohol, drugs or eat or drink.

You can call the Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis helpline - 0800 121 4685 - so that we can support you through the police and medical procedures. If you want, one of your trained support workers can accompany you to report.

• Consider retaining all of your clothing - it may contain vital evidence should you choose to report at a later date.
• Try to be somewhere safe with someone you can trust. If you're worried about sexually transmitted infections, you can access free, confidential advice at your local clinic or visit your GP. If you visit a clinic, you do not have to give your real name.
• Keep warm, as it is likely you will be in shock.
• As above, if you are injured, seek treatment from a doctor or the hospital.
• If there is any possibility that you could be pregnant, you can consider emergency contraception:
• Levonelle (most commonly know as the morning after pill) should be taken within 72 hours (three days) of the rape,
• ellaOne can be taken within 120 hours (five days) of the rape,
• an Intrauterine device (IUD) is a small plastic and copper device which can be fitted into the womb - this can be fitted up to five days after the rape.

Remember that you can still call our helpline - 0800 121 4685 - you don't have to go through this alone, and we will respect your decision to not report to police.