Online dating is awesome. Just be sure to stay safe when meeting in person.

There’s a nervousness, thrill, and excitement that occurs when meeting a person for the first time face to face. During this enchanting and stressful time, it’s important to remember to always be on your guard. Online dating is a great way to meet a potential partner or soul-mate.  But don’t forget that the person you are meeting you do not yet truly know. Thus always be alert. Online Dating Magazine has assembled some tips and guidelines for you when going on that exciting first date:

SEE ALSO: Online Dating Tonight: Online Dating Safety Tips

10 Tips for Dating Safely on Your First Date

1. Arrange to meet elsewhere than your home.
When meeting for the first time, never allow your date to pick you up from your home. In fact, your date shouldn’t even know your home address.

2. Meet in a public place.
For a first meeting, always meet in a public place where other people are in close proximity. Popular public places to meet on a first date include coffee shops (research shows this is the most popular first date destination) and restaurants. For the more creative, you could consider an event and amusement place. Meeting in a public place also means remaining in a public place. Avoid secluded areas during your date.

Stay in a public place for your first date and avoid secluded areas such as parks. Click To Tweet

3. Remember that alcohol affects your judgment.
The biggest threat to a person’s judgment, when on a date, is alcohol. Not only does alcohol affect your judgment, but it also lessens your inhibitions. If you are drinking, keep your drink in sight at all times and don’t get so drunk that you don’t know what you are doing. Better yet, try to avoid alcohol on your first date. Always keep your mind fresh and alert.

4. Use your own mode of transportation.
For your first date, make sure that you have your own mode of transportation to the public place you are meeting (unless a friend is driving you and hanging out nearby till your date is over).

5. Don’t assume that your date is safe.
When you get to know someone online, you may start to feel a level of “comfort” with that person. Whether a man or woman, you should never make the assumption that the person is going to be a complete lady or gentlemen. That doesn’t mean you should be nervous! To the contrary – plan on having a great time. Just be alert and don’t let assumptions based on your online communications affect your initial judgments. For example, just because you met someone on a Christian Website doesn’t mean you should assume that they will be perfectly well-behaved.

6. Don’t exchange addresses yet.
Even if the first date goes well, there is no reason for your date to know where you live. If you plan a second date, plan on meeting at the date location again.

7. Listen to your gut.
If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Remember to trust your gut instinct. If your gut tells you something isn’t right, then remove yourself from the situation.

8. Always let someone else know where you’re going.
Be sure someone knows where you are going and who you’ll be with. You might even consider arranging a time to call and check in. Or you could arrange to meet up with friends later that night.

9. Never give a home phone number.
Pretty much these days everyone uses cell phones. But if you happen to have a home landline, never give that number out. It’s always safer to give a cell phone number. In fact, some people will use “throw away phones” for their initial online dating communications. So why shouldn’t you give out a home phone number? Click here for the answer.

10. Always remain alert.
Even if you’re having a blast and the chemistry is great, it’s a good idea to remain alert the whole evening. Make sure you have a cell phone on you.

Dating safely is very important. In the initial stages of dating and online dating, you are still getting to know someone you know very little about. By creating a safe environment to know the person, you’re creating a better situation for yourself.

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