I think at this point in my life I'd fight back. My pointy-toed shoes can do a number on sensitive tissue. Plus I usually carry a pen in my hand. Vey useful for ad hoc tracheotomies.
My pen is the one from Benchmade. The aircraft grade aluminum pointy-ended jobber. Check out the benchmade site or knifecenter.com.
I've gotten it successfully on airplanes too. I merely pull the cap and switch ends so the cap covers the pointy part and put it in my briefcase with the other pens. Run it through x-ray.
If it is questioned, it is in fact just a pen. And it isn't technically "sharp". Though it could be sharpened in a pinch. But its a fine skullpunch. Or insta-trach tool, as needed.
:-)