us Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations

What to do if…
you are in immediate danger of sexual assault and cannot leave safely

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 30 July 2026 Last reviewed: 17 August 2026 Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Call 911 now if you can do so without increasing the danger. If speaking could expose you, text 911 with your exact location and state that you are in immediate danger of sexual assault; calling is preferred, and text-to-911 is not available everywhere.

Do not do these things

Do not confront the person or announce that you are seeking help if that may increase the danger.
Do not force yourself to resist physically if you believe resistance would make you less safe.
Do not leave a safer position or open a locked door if doing so could expose you to greater danger.
Do not delay emergency help to collect belongings, document events, or protect property.
Do not worry about giving a complete explanation before asking for help.
Do not blame yourself for freezing, appeasing, complying, or doing what you need to survive.

What to do now

Call 911 if you can speak safely. If speaking could expose you, text 911 and begin with your exact address or location, followed by a brief message such as “Immediate danger of sexual assault. Send help.”
If you receive a message saying text-to-911 is unavailable, call 911 if you safely can or use another safe way to get someone to contact emergency services for your location.
Tell the dispatcher your room, apartment, floor, vehicle, workplace, or other precise location. Share information about weapons, injuries, the person, or anyone else at risk only when it is safe to do so.
Keep the call or text connection open and follow the dispatcher’s instructions when doing so does not expose you to greater danger.
If you cannot contact 911, send a brief message to a trusted person, nearby staff member, security worker, or neighbor. Give your exact location, say that you are in immediate danger of sexual assault, and ask them to get emergency help.
Move only if a safer position is immediately reachable without increasing the danger. This may be near other people, in a staffed area, or behind a door you can secure.
At the first safer pause, contact RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline by calling 800-656-4673, texting HOPE to 64673, or using its online chat. If the person is a current or former partner, you can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

What can wait

You do not need to decide now whether to make a formal report, pursue charges, end a relationship, move, tell family or work, or give a detailed account. If an assault has occurred, decisions about a medical examination or evidence collection can wait until you are safer and can speak with a healthcare professional or sexual assault advocate, unless you need urgent medical care now.

Important reassurance

Freezing, appeasing, complying, or doing anything you believe may help you survive does not make this your fault and does not turn coercion into consent. You only need to focus on the next action that seems safest.

Scope note

This guide covers the earliest steps during immediate danger and the first safer pause. Later medical, reporting, housing, legal, and support decisions may require help from a sexual assault advocate, healthcare professional, or other specialist.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, medical, therapeutic, or other professional advice. Contact 911 for immediate emergency assistance and follow instructions from emergency responders when it is safe to do so.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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