Love is in the air and Valentine’s Day celebrations are underway but as we are in the business of personal safety, we are always conscious of the dangers of dating! This week on our blog we have five tips for staying safe when dating.
Staying Safe When Dating – 5 Tips
Whatever age you are, staying safe when meeting and dating new people is important. Dating can be exciting and even the most sensible of people can have a lapse in judgment when it comes to picking a mate.
With the advent of the internet and dating apps, meeting new people is easier than ever. here are our tops five tips for staying safe when dating.
- Always meet in a public place
If you are meeting someone for the first, or even second time don’t agree to meet them at their property or a secluded place. Pick a public venue where other people will be present. A coffee shop, restaurant, or pub is ideal. Never agree to meet a stranger in a place where you won’t be able to get help quickly should you need to.
- Do research beforehand
We aren’t advising investigating your potential date, but some degree of vetting is a good idea. At least find out the basics about a person before you meet them; their full name, an area they live in, occupation etc. not only will this make you feel more comfortable before meeting them, but you can pass information like their full name on to a friend before you set off on a date.
- Let someone know where you are going
Even if you are meeting your date in a public place such as a pub, let a friend or relative know where you are going. You don’t have to give a lot of details, just tell them where you are going, the name of the person you are meeting and what time you expect to get home. A good friend or relative will message or call you, later on, to check how the date went and that you are ok.
- Trust your instincts
If you meet someone and something just feels ‘off’, then trust that initial instinct and leave. Staying safe is your priority and if you don’t feel comfortable in someone’s presence then you must leave. If you are uncomfortable excusing yourself and cutting the date short, perhaps say that you feel unwell or that a friend has messaged you with an emergency.
- Carry protection
No, not what you are thinking! Although that is a good idea, we also recommend carrying some sort of personal safety alarm. If you already use a lone worker device for work you can carry that if not there are a range of devices available that emit high pitched noises to deter attackers. Also, consider installing a tracking and safety app on your phone. Remember, it is illegal to carry any sort of weapon in the UK, which rules out pepper spray. However, if you feel that you need additional protection there is a UK legal alternative to pepper spray – read about it here.
Get in Touch
Remember, dating is all about having fun and the chances of things ending in criminal assault are still quite low. It always pays to have personal safety in mind though.
First2HelpYou are one of the UK’s premier providers of lone worker devices, get in touch for more information on protecting your employees.
