"No one deserves to be raped. Whether you were assaulted recently or years ago, we're here to help," said Holly Presnel, prevention education coordinator for the West Georgia Rape Crisis Center.
Presnel was the speaker at the Summit Family YMCA's Club 55 (seniors 55 plus) "Lunch and Learn" on Jan. 24.
"I naturally think everybody is good. They're not," she stated.
"Trust your instincts," she said. "Be aware of your surroundings. Don't go to an isolated area with someone you don't know well or don't trust completely," she warned. "About 80 percent of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows and about half of all rapes occur in or within one mile of the victim's home."
Presnel said, "Know your neighbors. Be careful when people ask for directions." Along with locking doors and windows, she said to "never leave keys under flower pots, doormats or in other obvious places."
"If you or someone you know is assaulted, find a safe place and call for help. There are people available 24 hours a day to help," she said. "Avoid taking a bath, douching, going to the bathroom or changing clothes until you are examined by a doctor. This preserves evidence in case you decide to press charges."
The Crisis Center is a non-profit and money donated is used to buy clothing and hygiene materials for victims. "When they go to the hospital and their clothing is taken for evidence, they don't have anything to wear out of the hospital," Presnel said.
"Get immediate medical attention," she advised. "The victim should be examined for injuries, sexually transmitted diseases and possible pregnancy.
"It helps for a victim to talk to someone he or she trusts. If a friend confides in you, listen with compassion and take the victim seriously. Let them know that you believe them and that there are people who will help them," she said. "Like other felonies, less than 2 percent of reported rapes are false," she added.
"People are less reluctant to intervene when they see something happening to a stranger. But that stranger is somebody's mother, son, daughter, grandmother. Be a role model. If you see violence happen, be helpful or send for help," she said.
One participant related a incident that took place in the Walmart parking lot about a year ago:
"I saw a man walking around the parking lot with a clicker on a key ring. When I figured out what he was doing, I called 911. He had stolen the keys from a woman's purse in the store and was trying to find the car to steal it," or maybe something worse.
The man was apprehended.
Presnel cautioned, "One in three females will experience an act of sexual violence sometime in their lifetime. The risk of rape is higher for females ages 14-24 than any other age group. One out of six males will be sexuality assaulted before the age of 18. All ages, races and economic groups are at risk.
The West Georgia Rape Crisis Center serves Coweta, Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties. All services are free to victims and their loved ones.
The Center's services are:
• 24-Hour Crisis Line - 770-834-7273
• 24-Hour Hospital Accompaniment
• Crisis Intervention/Support Services
• Criminal Justice Assistance
• Community Resource Information and Referral
• Counseling Referral Services
• Survivors Support Group
• Prevention/Awareness Presentations
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Clothing/Comfort Kits for Victims.
The website for the center is westga.edu/~crcc .
