Joan emailed me about her daughter who is arranging a date with a man she met on the internet. As most mothers would be, Joan is a little aprehensive about it, and wanted to know if I had any suggestions.

This video provides some safe dating tips for a first date. For example, always meet in a public place and trust your instincts. If things don’t seem to be going well or if you have any fears about the individual you’re meeting find an excuse to leave.

VideoJug: How To Date Safely

In addition to the tips from the video I would suggest that you bring a close friend along with you on your first date. Meet at a restaurant that has a bar so your friend could hang out there and watch to see that it’s going good. (Your date shouldn’t know they’re there.) If it doesn’t look like it is, she can call you on your cell phone and that can give you an excuse to leave. You may even want to work out a signal like scratching your ear. (You should repay the favor by doing the same for her when she has a first date with a stranger.)

I’d also be careful not to drink anything that hasn’t been in your sight since the wait-staff or bartender brought it you. Unfortunately, there are some twisted men that stoop to slipping drugs in to drinks that lower a women’s inhibitions and some of these drugs can even affect short term memory.

Do you have any other first date safety tips? Please share them in the comments.

Tags: dating, dating advice, relationships, relationships advice