St. Lawrence County SANE
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner
If you have been sexually assaulted, you may want to forget about what happened, but there are steps that can be taken to regain a sense of control.
The St. Lawrence County SANE Program provides specially trained nurses to victims of sexual assault at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Claxton Hepburn Medical Center and Massena Memorial Hospital. A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner offers confidential, compassionate and non-judgmental care as well as a forensic examination for injury identification and evidence collection.
Why Would I Want to Use St. Lawrence County SANE?
After surviving a crime of sexual violence, it is important to receive medical attention. Physical injuries may need to be treated. You also might want to collect any evidence on your body of the crime. This evidence could include bruises, cuts, semen or saliva. SANE's are trained in how to collect this evidence. If you choose, you can also be treated preventatively for HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and the possibility of pregnancy. SANE's can also collect blood and urine to detect if you have been drugged.
Time is Important!
If too much time passes after an assault, your treatment options can change. Preventative treatment is available for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and pregnancy but has to be taken within these timeframes:
HIV Prophylaxis (medication) must begin within 36 hours
Emergency Contraception ("Plan B") should be given within 72 hours but can be given up to 120 hours.
DNA Evidence may be collected up to 96 hours after the assault.
A drug-facilitated rape kit can be done up to 96 hours after the assault as well.
What happens in the Emergency Room?
When someone arrives at the emergency room and states that they have been sexually assaulted, they will be placed in a safe and private room until a SANE and a Rape Crisis Advocate from CAVA, the Rape Crisis Center, arrive. The SANE will explain what medical treatment and evidence collection options are available. The patient has the choice in deciding what care they will receive.
Do I have to report to police if I use St. Lawrence County SANE?
In most cases you will decide whether or not to involve the police. If you choose to have evidence collected, the police can come and pick it up from the hospital. If you need time to decide on reporting to the police, you can have the hospital keep it for no less than 30 days. A Rape Crisis Counselor from CAVA can help you make the decision to report by providing you with all of your options.
Will anyone else know that I had a Sexual Assault Exam?
The services that will be provided to you are confidential. In most cases, you decide who you want to tell. If you decide to report to the police, the SANE can provide expert testimony. A Rape Crisis Counselor from CAVA can help you through the reporting process as well as any judicial proceedings.
If you have been sexually assaulted you may choose to:
Get to a place where you feel safe!
Preserve Evidence of the Assault.
Do not wash, change your clothes, smoke, urinate, eat or drink anything, brush your teeth or clean up the area where the sexual assault occurred.
Call CAVA Rape Crisis and Counseling Center's 24 Hour Hotline. A Rape Crisis Counselor can give you the information you need to decide what to do.
(315)386-3777
Toll-free: 1-877-288-2331
Go to Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Claxton Hepburn Medical Center or Massena Memorial Hospital where a Rape Crisis Counselor and SANE can meet you for medical attention.
Call a friend or family member to support you.
If someone you know tells you they have been sexually assaulted:
LISTEN
BELIEVE THEM
DON'T BE JUDGMENTAL
BE PATIENT
Together you can use the 24 Hour Rape Crisis Hotline, provided by CAVA, for support.
ST. Lawrence County SANE
CAVA Rape Crisis & Counseling Center
20 East Main Street
Canton, New York 13617
(315)386-3777
