[buckrog64]

I've heard the whistle is sometimes the best thing to use in a situation like that. Be careful near a crowd if hands are flying and you have the thing between your teeth; you'll get a Christmas card from your dentist for sure. But blast into that thing as loud as you can before getting too far into the crowd. Sometimes that won't stop the point of attack, but it might slow down others who are thinking about joining the action. Dittos to the others, however. Dad should keep his hands to himself. He may have had the best intentions, but it can lead to much bigger problems.