A Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) at Lancaster General is an Emergency Department nurse who has received additional training in the evaluation of and evidence collection from victims of sexual assault. The SAFE nurse works together with the police, the District Attorney’s Office and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center to provide the patient with one to one nursing care while collecting evidence to assist law enforcement with their investigation. All SAFE nurses are trained in Adolescent and Adult Sexual Assault while some of the nurses have received additional training in Pediatric Sexual Assault.

It is important to know that evidence diminishes over time. Medical treatment can be provided at any time by emergency department staff; however, evidence will be collected by a SAFE nurse when the assault has occurred within the past 72 hours. If you are unsure if you want to press charges, it is best to speak with the police and have evidence collected. Your decision to press charges can be made at a later time and evidence may not be present when you decide to press charges. The sooner a victim presents for evidence collection the higher the chance evidence will still be present.

Victims of sexual assault are also provided with medications for prevention of pregnancy (if within 72 hours of the assault) and sexually transmitted diseases.

If you or a loved one are the victim of a sexual assault, please come to the Emergency Department at Lancaster General or go to a safe location and call the police or the YWCA Sexual Assault Hotline at (717) 392-7273.