A dad is urging people to learn what a vital hand signal means after discovering it for the first time. The simple hand gesture can be done discreetly to let others know you need help.
It aims to let people know you need help and was created by the Canadian Women’s Foundation during the Covid pandemic so victims of domestic abuse could ask for help without alerting their abusers or leaving a digital trace. They came up with the idea saying at the time not all people in need of assistance are able to communicate verbally that they are in danger.
It has developed so today it is used by anyone who needs help – but its success depends on people recognising the sign so they can act on it. Now Rob Kenney, posting on his “Dad, how do I” YouTube channel is seeking to raise awareness after learning of the signal for the first time.
He said: “One of my followers shared a post about this and it was something that I didn’t know so I thought that maybe you don’t know and I thought it was important enough to pass along to everyone to get the word out.”
Demonstrating the gesture he said: “This is the universal hand signal for needing help. The way you can remember it is it’s like someone being trapped.
“It was originally established in 2020 for victims of domestic abuse but it can obviously be used for other situations. So now if you see this you know what it means and also if someone needs help and isn’t able to use their words it would be good for them to know this.
Urging people to share the video “to get the word out” he added: “Be safe and God bless you.” People watching the video had their own advice.
One warned: “And…it’s important to understand that if someone is using this gesture? They are trying to be discreet! So, when you engage with someone who has used this gesture, YOU need to be discreet too.
“If it’s a domestic violence situation, their abuser could be within earshot. So, you would NOT want to rush up on that person and make a big fuss saying things like, “Oh my gosh! Are you ok!?!? I saw your help signal! What’s wrong!?!?” Be…discreet.”
Monica said: “I had seen the signal before. But it’s now easier to remember that the thumb goes inside like it is being trapped. Thank you!”
Sorbet512 added: “Didn’t know this. Thank you for sharing.” While Luma said: “Wow! I didn’t know that. Thank you.”
How to do the gesture
To do the gesture simply hold up your palm facing the person you’re communicating with, tuck your thumb into the palm, and fold your fingers down over the thumb in a “trapping” motion. It needs to be done subtly so as not to alert the abuser.