Safety first – tips on staying safe if you’re meeting a new, sexy Valentine this year

Valentines Day is almost upon us. It’s the most universally acknowledged romantic evening of the year and there are plenty of things to do if you’re heading out for a special evening with that special person. Valentines Day is also a perfect time to introduce a new love into your life. But if you’re meeting up with a new, sexy Valentine for the first time this year then there are some rules of engagement that you should bear in mind to keep your evening as fun and hassle-free as possible.

In this age of social media it’s pretty easy to find out whether someone is who they say they are, but you should still be careful – there are lots of men out there who are not what they appear to be and the tips below are definitely worth following.

Always tell someone where you’re going. If you’ve never met this person before, the chances are that everything will be fine. But just in case, you should always let a trusted friend or family member know what your plans are for rescue purposes if it all goes wrong.

Make sure that your phone is fully charged and near you at all times. This is a basic safety measure for everyday life, but it’s also especially important when you’re meeting somebody that you don’t know.

Likewise, make sure that you stay in safe places. Insist on meeting in a pub or restaurant and spend the evening around other people. Sure, a Valentines date is supposed to be a cosy dinner for two tucked away in a quiet, side street bistro somewhere, but with a brand new person you don’t want to be in a secluded place and face a dark walk back through to this busier spots. If it all goes well, you can spend the next months settling into your new relationship and save the romantic gestures for next year. Valentines Day isn’t going anywhere.

On a similar note, do not invite someone that you don’t know into your house. It might seem like an easy, cheap option for a Valentines date, but the fact is that you would taking a huge risk and in the event that something does go wrong then you’re trapped inside and potentially not able to seek help. Even more importantly, don’t accept an invitation to their house either. You have no idea what they could be planning and with the sharp rise in use of date rape drugs, it’s just a risk too far.

BE PREPARED. Whether this is a serious date or just a hook-up, it’s always worth making sure that you have plenty of condoms on you, just in case. If things do get steamy, don’t rely on your date and make sure that you’re protecting yourself.

Lastly, trust your instincts. If your senses are screaming at you that there’s something wrong here, then there probably is, so just make your excuses politely and get out.