IN ORDER TO PREVENT A RAPE, EVERY WOMAN SHOULD BE AWARE OF HER POTENTIAL FOR BEING VICTIMIZED. ANY WOMAN IS TO SOME EXTENT A POTENTIAL VICTIM, YET THE CHANCES OF BEING ASSAULTED CAN BE REDUCED WITH THE EXERCISE OF FORETHOUGHT AND CARE. WOMEN SHOULD AVOID SITUATIONS IN WHICH RAPE HAS A GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRING, AND TAKE PROPER SECURITY PRECAUTIONS AT ALL TIMES. BECAUSE 30 PERCENT OF ALL RAPES OCCUR IN THE VICTIM'S RESIDENCE, WOMEN SHOULD CONDUCT OCCASIONAL INSPECTIONS OF THEIR HOMES OR APARTMENTS, MAKING SURE THAT DOORS AND WINDOWS HAVE ADEQUATE SAFETY LOCKS. INFORMATION CONCERNING HER SCHEDULE OR PRESENCE AT HOME SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED IN TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN RESPONSE TO STRANGERS' QUESTIONS. IDENTIFICATION SHOULD BE REQUIRED FROM ANY PERSON WHO REQUESTS ENTRY. BECAUSE RAPISTS WATCH A POTENTIAL VICTIM FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO ANY ASSAULT, WOMEN SHOULD VARY THEIR ROUTINE AND MODIFY THEIR TRAVEL PATTERNS. WALKING WITH A FRIEND AND HAVING AN AWARENESS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALSO IS RECOMMENDED. VULNERABILITY CAN BE REDUCED BY THE APPROPRIATE USE OF ASSERTIVE BODY LANGUAGE WHICH DETERS THE RAPISTS WHO IS LOOKING FOR AN EASY TARGET. AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF ONE'S OWN NATURAL RESPONSES IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION CAN AID IN THE PREPARATION FOR AN EMERGENCY. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)