Nothing is as exciting as a first date. You rush around to get ready. Put on something nice, but not too nice. Check yourself in the mirror half a dozen times in fifteen minutes. Then you are at the restaurant, chatting awkwardly and slowly attempting to get to know the person. At the end of the night, if you had a good time, you allow a goodnight kiss, and make plans for the next date. In all the turmoil and excitement of preparation one thing is chronically overlooked. That thing is your personal health and safety. Women put themselves at risk every time they go out with someone they do not know very well. However, women need not live in fear, there are certain easy things that can be done to ensure that all dates are safe dates.

First, whenever you plan a date with someone you do not know very well you should always plan to stay in a public place. Well-lit restaurants and coffee shops are a good choice. Walks in the park at night or trips to your apartment are better left until you have gotten to know the person a little better. It may break the mood a little to refuse an invitation for a midnight stroll, but when your health and safety is at stake breaking the mood is excusable.

Second, wherever you go be sure someone knows where you are and whom you are with. Also, be sure to give an estimate of when you will be home, and call if you plant o be late. This way someone will be alerted immediately if something happens to you. If you decide to go somewhere other than where you originally planed, call keep your friend aware of the change of venue. On a first date it may also be wise to ask your friend to call you at some point during the date, just to check up on you. Have a code word or phrase you can use in case you want to leave, and have an excuse prepared for your friend to use to get you to come home. Be sure that you always take your own car or taxi, or let your friend pick you up and drop you off so you are not forced to get into his car if you feel uncomfortable.

Third, listen to your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable there is probably a reason for it. Sometimes your subconscious is better at looking out for your health and safety than your conscious mind is. Even if you cannot provide yourself with a reasonable explanation for why you feel the way you do, that does not make the emotion any less valid.

Fourth, be careful about what you drink. Alcohol can severely impair your judgment. You may do things you will regret in the morning or be less likely to notice suspicious behavior than you would if you were sober. Even if you do not drink anything alcoholic you should always be aware of the possibility of date rape drugs. Good health and safety means never letting someone buy you a drink that you did not watch being made, and not letting your drink out of your sight. Drinks in sealed bottles or cans are safest, and covers can be replaced on bottles so they are harder to drug.

Keeping just these few things in mind can make sure that all your dates are safe dates. As long as you stay aware there is no reason to be fearful. If you still find yourself fearing for your health and safety on dates, taking a self-defense class may increase your confidence and security level. Women who display such confidence are for less likely to be victimized because predators realize they do not make easy targets.