SCORE Before you Score
As we’ve said before, it’s great if you want to hook up! (It’s also great if you don’t want to!) Just remember to be safe while having fun.
When planning a hookup situation, remember this golden rule: SCORE before you score.
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- Send your location
- Communicate about condoms, etc.
- Out in the open
- Resist drinking and drugs
- Evaluate your environment
Send your location
If you are traveling to your hookup’s place, let a trusted friend or family member know where you are going in case you need to get picked up or something bad happens.
Communicate about condoms, etc.
Before you meet, talk to your hookup about what you feel comfortable doing sexually (for example, only blowjobs) and how you want to protect your health (condoms and PrEP). It’s OK to turn someone down if they don’t meet your needs.
Out in the open
You never know if a hookup is going to look like his picture or if he’s really an axe murderer. Meet first in a public place – not your house or his – so you can gauge the situation and escape if necessary.
Resist drinking and drugs
Partying with friends is different than partying with a hookup you don’t know. Alcohol and drugs affect your ability to make decisions around protecting your health. So, know your limits, or save the partying for some other time.
Evaluate your environment
Before your clothes come off, look around for anything that might make things risky or unsafe for you, from drugs to weapons or even other people. You can always pull out of a situation if you don’t feel comfortable.
Remembering to SCORE before you score will help you stay safer in any hookup situation.