UofL Health highlights human trafficking warning signs ahead of Derby

According to the Family and Children’s Center, Derby ranks as the second-largest event for human trafficking in the country.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — UofL Health officials are urging Louisville residents to stay alert to the warning signs of human trafficking as the Kentucky Derby approaches.

According to the Family and Children’s Center, Derby is the second-largest event for human trafficking in the country. Vicki Yazel, Director of UofL Health’s Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE Services), said in a release Monday that large crowds play a major role in this statistic.

“It’s like with any area that you overpopulate,” Yazel said. “When you have hundreds of thousands of people come into the city like we do during this time, it is going to increase the opportunity for victimization.”

UofL Health is a leading provider of care for sexual assault and domestic violence victims through its SAFE and SANE services. These services are available 24/7 and are staffed by nurse examiners specifically trained to handle sexual assault cases.

“If the individual comes into the hospital stating they were sexually assaulted, the SANE nurse is contacted and they’re brought to a private exam room,” Yazel said. “They’re given options to have a forensic medical examination, we give them the option to report to law enforcement, we call someone from the Center of Women and Families and we can give them medications to help treat for any STIs.”

Officials listed the following warning signs to watch for:

Evidence of physical abuse (mostly to the head, face, neck, hands, or wrists)
Delayed presentation for medical care
Victim or survivor appears younger than the reported age
A companion speaks for the patient or answers all questions
“Branding” or identifiers such as tattoos, burns, or scars placed by traffickers
Avoids eye contact
Appears malnourished

Human trafficking victims can be anyone, regardless of age, sex, race, or identity. However, data from the International Labour Organization shows that 87% of sex trafficking victims were under 25, and 72% were women or girls.

Click here for more information on SAFE and SANE services.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 at 888-373-7888.

This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.