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devices available for those systems. (Credit: KOMO News / Flickr / Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC-BY 2.0))
3. Protect your drink. A risk at bars and at college campus parties is the use of date-rape drugs to assist
sexual assaults. Date-rape drugs often have no color, smell, or taste, so you can’t tell if you are being
drugged. The drugs can make you weak and confused so you are unable to refuse sex or defend yourself.
It is easy for anyone to slip a date-rape drug in your drink. Never leave your drink unattended, and never
accept a drink from someone you do not trust.
4. Be alert and stay charged. Always be aware of the people in your surrounding area. Notice anyone who
looks out of place, and avoid dark and unpopulated areas. Make sure to charge your cell phone before you
go out for the evening.
5. Avoid walking alone at night, and don’t accept rides from strangers. Going out with a group is the
best way to make sure everyone gets home safely. In the event you find yourself alone at the end of the
night, know ahead of time what escort services your school offers. Or use services like Uber and Lyft, and
MAKE SURE you get in the car that matches the license plate on the app.
It’s also wise to install safety apps. These apps can automatically alert police and your emergency contacts
in the event of an emergency. Always let your roommates and friends know your plans for the evening
and when you expect to return.
GET CONNECTED
Luckily, there are tech opportunities to keep yourself safe. Three good apps for the job are:
Noonlight (https://www.noonlight.com) is an app that connects all your devices to trigger an alarm with a
live, 24/7 staff in case of any emergency: heart attack, car wreck, assault, or any other event that requires
emergency attention.
Kitestring (https://www.kitestring.io) is an app you alert when you are headed out to a potentially risky
situation, like a first date or meeting someone for the first time. The app texts you to check in, and if you
don’t respond, it alerts your emergency contacts to the situation.
Circle of 6 (https://www.circleof6app.com) makes it easy for you to alert the six people in your circle any
time you need help.
If You Are a Victim of a Crime
Most college students report feeling safe on campus. College administrators are fully committed to making
your campus experience as safe as possible. If you are attacked, it is important to know what to do:
If possible, get to a safe place. Move to a well-lit area to call for help.
Call 911 or have someone call 911 for you.
Follow the operator's instructions. 911 operators will instruct you until police or paramedics arrive.
Contact a trusted friend or family member. You will want emotional support and also somewhere to go
after all the official procedures are complete.
• Take time to heal. If you are a victim of crime or assault, it can be traumatic. The healing process will take
time. Check with your campus mental health services about how they can help in your recovery.
If You Are a Victim of Sexual Assault or Rape
Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity you don’t agree to. This can include inappropriate touching, sexual
intercourse, attempted rape, and rape. Most people are surprised to learn that 80 percent of rapes are
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11.6 • Your Safety
committed by someone the victim knows.
Figure 11.14 The majority of rapes are committed by people known to the victim, which can have a significant effect on prevention
and reporting. (Credit: Modification of work by RAINN (https://openstax.org/l/sexualviolencestats))
Take the following steps if you or someone you know has been raped:
• Get medical care. Go to the nearest rape crisis center, hospital, or student health service center. Do not go
to the bathroom, shower, brush your teeth, wash your hands, or change clothes before you go. It’s
important to preserve any evidence.
• Ask the hospital or center to take a urine sample to test for date-rape drugs.
• Call the police from the hospital. Tell the police exactly what you remember. File a report.
• Arrange for follow-up counseling. A counselor can help you work through the many emotions you may
feel following a sexual assault, which is important to the healing process. You can get help from the
National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE.
Under Title IX legislation, sexual harassment and sexual violence are forms of gender discrimination and are
prohibited. This includes off-campus incidents or incidents that involve people who are not students. If you
experience a hostile environment, sexual harassment, or sexual assault, schools have a responsibility to stop
the discrimination, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects. Schools also have a responsibility to protect
people who report sexual harassment or assault from retaliation from other students, school administrators,
or faculty.
The Clery Act, a federal law that intersects with Title IX, requires colleges and universities to do the following
for survivors of campus sexual assault:
• Notify survivors of counseling resources.
• Notify survivors of the option to report a case to the school and law enforcement.
• Provide requested accommodations, such as changing dorms or classes.
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11 • Engaging in a Healthy Lifestyle
• Notify survivors of the final outcome of a disciplinary proceeding.
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11 • Summary
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Summary
In this chapter you have been introduced to the wide range of factors that impact your health. Health is much
more than keeping your physical body in good shape. Good health also includes your mental and emotional
health, quality relationships, and prioritizing your personal safety.
The contributors to physical health include eating clean, non-processed food; staying hydrated; moving your
body daily; and getting sufficient sleep. You now understand why it is necessary to prioritize sleep, and that
quality sleep is also dependent on the way you eat and exercise. You have identified ways to improve what you