Spring break tourists can pack more than a camera and suntan lotion into their fanny packs next week. A spring break safety program tonight will handout a persuader-baton, the latest tool in self defense, to the first 40 potential tourists.

The program will be presented by the Midwestern organization Be Ready Against Violence Everywhere (BRAVE) and will discuss street safety, traveling safety, date-rape and the date-rape drug.

The program will conclude with an hour-long self-defense training course.

“A lot of people aren’t aware of their surroundings that mark them as a tourist,” said Kristi Altringer, the Executive Educational/Cultural chair for Richardson Court Association.

“We want to make people aware of these things so that they don’t become victims,” she said.

The persuader-batons will be given away as part of the self-defense course, which will feature seven different ways to use the weapon. The persuader-baton is a six inch black stick fastened onto a keychain.

“It has been used by police and has recently been certified for civilian use,” BRAVE Representative Julie Turner said. “Since you always have your keys with you, it provides a unique opportunity for added safety.”

Turner, who is certified in persuader-baton training, will be leading the program. She said she will focus on the simple techniques people do not normally think about.

“We work on how to walk, what to look for in others and how to get out of simple wrist and arm grabbing situations,” Turner said. “We stick with simple techniques because we don’t want to overwhelm the audience.”

Turner said self-defense demonstration is part of every program she presents.

She also listed awareness, prevention and finding positive motivation to avoid future encounters as topics BRAVE covers.

Tonight’s program will be held in Maple Main from 6 to 8 p.m. It is sponsored by the RCA Student Government and the Maple Hall Programming Board.

“It is a progressive program,” Altringer said. “So we want people to be on time.”

Although the BRAVE organization plans to be nationwide by the end of the year, its headquarters are currently located in Des Moines and can be reached for further information at (515) 277-5546.