In Birdy's Eyes:

What is a "SAFE Center of Excellence"?

Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) services are considered the best and most victim-centered approach to acute health care for sexual assault patients. The New York State Department of Health certifies Emergency Departments as SAFE Centers of Excellence.


SAFE Centers provide sexual assault patients with:

Sensitive, victim-centered, medical and forensic health care performed by a specially trained Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE). A SAFE is a healthcare provider such as a doctor, nurse, physicians assistant or nurse practitioner.

Care that is timely, compassionate, and patient-centered, in a designated and appropriately equipped private room:

Assurance about the quality of collection, documentation, preservation and custody of physical evidence by utilizing a trained and Washington State Department of Health-certified sexual assault forensic examiner to perform exams. These examiners are available to provide expert testimony if patients choose to report crimes to law enforcement.

Psycho-social and legal support by a specially trained Rape Crisis Advocate or Counselor.

Reliable referrals to mental and physical health care and follow-up services.

Emergency Care

If you have been raped within the past 96 hours …

Get to a safe place. (For example -- someone’s home, the nearest hospital or police station)

Call 911 to be taken to an emergency room for medical care and/or for immediate police protection and assistance. A complete medical evaluation will include a physical examination, treatment, evidence collection, and/or counseling. Remember, you will not be made to do anything you do not want to do and may decline any of the elements of this evaluation.

If you have been raped, it is important to seek medical care, especially if you have been physically injured. Even if you do not have any visible physical injuries from the assault, there may be physical injuries that you cannot see, and medical and health centers can provide additional services such as testing for sexually transmitted diseases and emergency contraception.

When you call 911, explain what has happened and request to be sent to an emergency department that is a certified SAFE Center of Excellence. (See "What is a ‘SAFE Center of Excellence")

In the meantime, do not change clothes, bathe, douche, or brush your teeth. This is important for the evidence collection process that will occur at the hospital.

If you seek to place a report with the police or press charges, it is best for evidence collection to occur within 96 hours of the rape.

Keep in mind, though, that evidence collection does not require you to place a report with the police or press charges, it just preserves these options for the future.

Or, go directly to the nearest SAFE Center of Excellence Emergency Department. If you go to the nearest emergency department that that is not a designated SAFE Center, you can be transferred to the nearest SAFE Center of Excellence.

Be sure to call your local Rape Relief Center.

-Birdy