As exciting as a first meeting can be, it’s important to take these simple precautions to ensure you’re safe.

If you are driving to and from the date, park your car in a well lit, busy area and follow Drive Safe tips.

Always arrange to meet in a busy, public place. Meeting in a remote place or at your/your date's home could leave you vulnerable.

Make sure you tell a friend or relative as much detail as you can about where you will be and when you expect to return. Get a mate to phone you in the middle of your date - they can check you're safe, and you can let them now how it's going!

Consider sending a SafetyText.

Drop into conversation with your date that friends know where you are and that your meeting isn’t secret.

Make sure your mobile is fully charged and with you at all times.

Be careful how much you drink. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and can leave you vulnerable. Make sure you are always in control of yourself.

Never leave your drink unattended. Take a drink testing kit with you and use it if you are at all unsure –see Drink Safe

Consider carrying a personal attack alarm. Chances are you wont need to use it but better safe than sorry. Most are small enough to fit into a handbag.

Never feel pressured to go back to your date’s house or invite them to yours. No matter how well the date may have gone, in reality, you have only met this person once. If you feel pressured, end the date and get home safely. If your date is really worthwhile, they’ll be only to happy to see you again without getting laid on the first date!

Make sure that you are in a public place from beginning to end. If you are followed to where you parked your car, hail a taxi or go into a pub, cafe or other public place and use the telephone to phone a friend. Come back later with your friend to get your car.

Never forget in an emergency, or if you feel seriously threatened, call 999.

Have fun but be safe. No first date is worth it being your last!