Parties, bars and night clubs are prime breeding grounds for acts of violence, assault and rape. With this in mind, these simple safety tips are important to keep in mind and pass along.

• Always get your own drink, and watch it being poured.



• Never leave your drink unattended. If you need to use the restroom and can't take it with you, leave it with a trusted friend-not a new date!



• If your drink tastes funny, do not drink it and dispose of it so no one else does.



• Keep in mind that most drugs used to spike a drink are colorless and tasteless, so not allowing your drink out of your sight is paramount.



• Be aware of how your friends are acting. If they seem more "out of it" than usual, be very wary and keep an eye out for them.

When it's time to leave, you may have met someone you are interested in. Ask yourself if you really trust this person. Can you be sure they won't make you do anything you don't want to do? Are you confident they will take NO for an answer? If you've asked yourself these questions and still want to leave with this person, be sure to introduce them to friends and let your friends know you are leaving with them.

So you've left with this person and you're now in a new location. You could be in a car, your home, their home, the beach, or some other secluded spot. You could even be a consenting participant in a heavy "make out" session. But things are moving too fast, the person's making you uncomfortable, or you've just simply changed your mind. At no point is it ever too late to say NO. Say it firmly and repeat it louder if you need to.

Hopefully, you were right when you asked yourself if you could trust this person, that they wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to do, and that they'd take NO for an answer. Unfortunately, despite a person's best efforts, it's possible to find yourself with somebody who has fooled you horribly and isn't going to take NO for an answer. This is NOT your fault. However, you do need to act to ensure your safety. If screaming for help or fleeing are not viable options, you need to defend yourself.

I could discuss many self-defense tactics or possible weapons, but for this particular topic, I'd like to tell you about one particular item that can be perfect for a situation where date rape seems imminent. It's a pepper spray disguised as a lipstick. A potential attacker is likely to drop their guard if you switch gears from resisting to saying you'd like to freshen your lipstick. His posture will relax when he sees you reach into your purse and come out with nothing but the aforementioned lipstick. But, the attractive case he sees packs a potent pepper spray. It holds twenty half-second sprays with a range of 10 feet. While your potential attacker is temporarily blinded and in excruciating pain, you have given yourself ample time to escape and go for help.

Look for more articles from me discussing potential threats and your options to defend yourself. Or, you can visit my company's website to find many resources, how-to manuals and dvd's, and products to ensure that you are personally safe, regardless of what situation you may find yourself in.