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Dating in the new millennium can be a scary prospect for women. Although the first date should be a fun and exciting experience with endless possibilities for the future, date rape is not a myth, and if women are not careful, they risk putting themselves in dire situations. There are solutions to first date safety concerns, though, and by following a few simple rules, the dating world can be a safe and exciting place for women.

In the age of the Internet, getting information on someone's background and history is as easy as typing www.google.com in to a web browser. Background checks are as inexpensive as $25 and can give a very good idea of a person's history and character. Of course, having certain information such as Social Security number and date of birth might not be possible prior to a first date, but often just a full name and address is needed to conduct a basic check.

Of course, background checks won't be effective if the pesron was never convicted of any crimes, or if they were going by a different identity, but any small feeling of security is better than none, and running a background screen on the potential date, if at all possible, can lend to that security.

When going on a first date, one should never meet the man at his or her house. Public places are much safer meeting spots until a comfort level is established. Ladies should drive their own cars and meet their dates in someplace public and crowded. Busy restaurants are good first meeting places, as long as they are not too noisy.

Always park as close to the front entrance as possible. This may sound overly cautious, but it's not safe to be alone with a stranger, and unless this is someone the woman has known for a long time, he is a stranger and can't be trusted until his trust is earned. It is also not a bad idea at all to carry a personal alarm or something along the lines of mace or pepper spray. Again, this is a stranger. Don't treat him like a friend until he becomes a friend.

Alcohol takes away inhibitions and causes us to make poor decisions. If at all possible, a woman should avoid drinking on the first date if they think for any reason there might be a chance of drinking too much. The woman never wants to be in a situation where her guard is down and she is unable to fight back if necessary. Additionally, if the woman does not have a drink, there is a better chance that her date won't either.

One of the best ways to protect one's self against trouble on a first date is to let someone know where she and her date will be. If possible, plan ahead so friends can be notified ahead of time. If anything happens a woman needs to call a friend or family member quickly, no time will be wasted in telling them where to go and giving directions. As an extra measure of precaution, it is a good idea to have a friend call the woman's cell later on the evening just to make sure everything is okay.

Women must exercise common sense on first dates to ensure safety. A woman should never go home with her date or invite him to her home on the first meeting. This person is a stranger and cannot be trusted until his trust is earned. Unless the woman is specifically seeking sex, in which case the precautions probably don't matter anyway, there is no need to do anything in private. Conversations can be carried on for hours in public places that are safe.

Some of the precautions listed may seem a bit over the top. But, just one night of watching the local news and it's made painfully clear that rape and murder are not exclusive to random acts of violence by strangers. It is always better to be safe than sorry on a first date or in any situation where there is risk of harm to the person or people involved.

Learn more about this author, Debbie N.
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