With the start of the 2023-2024 college year, knowing what incapacitation is and how to spot it is crucial for new and returning college students. 13 percent of all college students experience sexual assault while attending college between undergraduate and graduate students. An alarming amount of students do not report these assaults for one reason or another. One of the leading causes of this is because the victim(s) were incapacitated. When victims are incapacitated during their assault, they often feel like they have no proof or no way of getting justice for their assault. It is then important to understand what incapacitation is and how to identify it. 

Incapacitation is defined as “that state of not having the necessary ability, qualification, or strength to perform some specified act or function”. In the case of college, incapacitation usually means someone is under the influence of either drugs or alcohol and cannot make valid, sober decisions. During the beginning months of college, August-December, sexual assault statistics are higher than the average. This has many explanations, but most prominently is from excessive drinking and drug use from incoming students. New students often feel the need to drink or do drugs in order to fit in and to make friends. When students are incapacitated, they cannot consent to any form of sexual interaction. Consent is “an understandable exchange of affirmative words or actions, which indicate a willingness to participate in mutually agreed upon sexual activity”. Consent is not something that can be given when one or any members are incapacitated. 

It is important to know how to recognize when you or someone you know is incapacitated. Some of the easiest ways to identify when someone is so, is to know the symptoms. Symptoms can include but are not limited to: slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, shakiness, smelling of alcohol, vomiting, emotional volatility, unusual behavior, or unconsciousness. If someone you know is experiencing these symptoms whilst another person is trying to coerce or force them into something, it is essential that you intervene immediately and get them help. 

In the case of unconsciousness, it is extremely important that in these cases you know the correct first aid that needs to be administered. The first thing that you need to do is lay the person on their side so they do not choke on their own vomit. The next thing you need to do is check for a pulse. Call 911 or your country’s emergency line as soon as you can so you can get the person life saving help. It is important to try not to panic while this is going on because you need the operator on the phone to understand you. 

If you do not know the person, but you suspect that they are not in the right capacity to consent there are other ways to check in. You can ask them simple questions to establish their awareness. Some examples of the questions that you could ask them are: do you know where you are?, do you know who is here with you?, how long have you been here?, do you know what is happening right now?, and do you know how you got here? These are simple questions to help you establish whether someone is incapacitated or not. 

The last thing that is imperative to understanding incapacitation and how to act is knowing how you can report suspected assault or your own assault. All college universities have resources available to students. Most colleges require students to complete pre-semester courses to learn about the resources available to them. Always know the number to your campus police or security. And if you cannot get a hold of them, immediately call 911 or your country's emergency number. Other people you can turn to include your dorm’s RA, college counselors, friends and family members. Always step in when you suspect someone is incapacitated and/or have witnessed someone else try to coerce them into non-consensual acts. College campuses need to be safe spaces for students to learn and to have fun. Knowing what incapacitation is and how to step in on dangerous situations is vital in helping maintain a safe environment for everyone.

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Sources :

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/incapacitation

https://sexual-harassment.providence.edu/definitions/incapacitation/

https://letsbeclear.ucf.edu/more-information/sexual-assault-and-consent/

https://www.rainn.org/statistics/campus-sexual-violence

Photo on Unsplash by Jacob Bentzinger

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