At one point or another, most of us will be affected by sexual assault in some way. Some will become momentary “victims” who move into becoming a “survivor” with the grace of time, love, and support. Others will have a friend, family member, or romantic partner who has been victimized – these people are known as “secondary survivors.” Many sexual assault crisis centers across the United States provide free counseling and advocacy services to primary survivors and some also provide services to these secondary survivors who have their own unique issues and needs separate from that of the primary survivor.

While this is all valuable information to support survivors and their loved ones in the weeks and months after an assault, there is one critical step that can save lives if taken within days after an attack – a rape examination.