Tell a confidant
Always keep a close friend or family member informed of any online friendships that you develop so they can offer advice and look out for your well being. You should provide your confidant with all of the information you have regarding your online friend and give them details about when and where you plan to meet. Since you are at the point of meeting your online friend in person, you should at least have their full name, phone number and place of employment information.
   

Meet in a busy, public place
Always meet your online friend in a busy, public place during daylight hours and use your own transportation to and from the date. Meeting for lunch at a busy restaurant or coffeehouse is ideal because you are only obligated to spend a couple of hours or less with the person. If you are really nervous about meeting someone for the first time, try asking a friend to tag along if it will help you to feel more safe.
   

Traveling out of your area
If you are traveling outside of your local area to meet someone for the first time, always make your own hotel arrangements in advance and make sure your confidant knows where you are at all times. Before your trip, familiarize yourself with the area by glancing over a map and plan driving routes near your hotel location. If possible, rent a car or call a taxicab for transportation to and from the date. Always take a cell phone with you and have an extra battery on hand. If you really want to play it safe, invite a friend along with you and make some plans that include your friend within the date. By planning your trip in advance and taking every precaution, your travel experience should be pleasant and safe.
   

Friendly conversation
Always keep your conversation light and friendly. Too much flirting or too many sexy gestures can create the wrong impression and lead to unwanted actions during the date. Use this brief date as a time to get to know more about the person and to discover if the online/phone chemistry is the same once you are face to face. Pay attention to what the person says to you face to face vs. what they told you over the phone or the internet to be certain that their stories and information are consistent.
   

Ending the date
If you find that the date is not going as planned and it has left you sourly disappointed, it is wise to have a prearranged escape plan to get out fast. For example, If you have a cell phone, ask a friend to call you and have code words already established to secretly converse with your friend. If you are having a good time, tell your friend you will call them back later but if you are ready to end the date early, pretend like your friend is informing you of something that needs your immediate attention. End the date and it is absolutely OK to respectfully decline any more dates with the individual. If the date was very pleasant and enjoyable, it is best to stick with your original plan to end the date after lunch and then check in with your confidant. There will be plenty of time to make future plans if you really enjoyed your first date with your online friend.