Tobias F
Mike. 🩼🇨🇦If you don't know the universal hand signal for help, please check this out. I just learned myself, years after it was created. It could save a life. The fingers folding over the thumb is to represent being trapped. Please boost for everyone
Rick G@MikeImBack
I learned this in June 2025 while watching Graveyard on Netflix.
I learned this in June 2025 while watching Graveyard on Netflix.
🐜@MikeImBack i have no thumbs and only four fingers. :(
Mello@antdude @MikeImBack Use the finger of your other hand instead of a thumb perhaps?
Ilka 🌐@crisps @antdude @MikeImBack it is what it is and it is created to allow a simple universal symbol that can be created without raising suspicion of your capturer/keeper/threat. So no using 2 hands.
Rosmarinus@MikeImBack
If I remember right, this is only used in US and Canada. I think use the local sign language for asking for help is better and more readable for the people in your place.
If I remember right, this is only used in US and Canada. I think use the local sign language for asking for help is better and more readable for the people in your place.
TBH To Be Honest
Matti J.@MikeImBack So when I see this sign, I should call the police, is this correct?
Ein Philosophiker@MikeImBack What best to do when I see this sign?
@MikeImBack We had a case where a women was saved by that sign at the Mainstation. So it definitly has its purpose.
Marshall SutherlandThat's new to me
Frank CasaI recently saw it on a YouTube video. Some guy was harassing a woman, and she made that signal and some others came over and intervened.
Probably staged, but this is an example of how you use it:
#^https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Yu9TP8_phrw
Probably staged, but this is an example of how you use it:
#^https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Yu9TP8_phrw
She Signaled Help #ONEMAN #USA #SubwayHelp #SilentSignal #ProtectHer
Sigve Alsvik@MikeImBack Somebody please make a GIF!
Hassmeister@MikeImBack I learned this in Hamburg Underground TV.
King_DuckZ@MikeImBack I'd argue having a rugged phone with a long battery life and a spare battery or even a satellite phone, a light, being in a group of 2 or more people, having some first aid essentials and not adventuring onto deliberately dangerous paths are all better options. No amount of waving will help if you're trapped and there is no one around
⦺ irick 🐁🐈⚩@duckz @MikeImBack
It's more geared toward silently signaling that you are in a dangerous situation akin to domestic abuse.
It's more geared toward silently signaling that you are in a dangerous situation akin to domestic abuse.
@irick @MikeImBack ah right! Image said "in danger", I pictured a guy with a broken leg in a forest alone, something like that
@duckz
Understandable confusion TBH.
I've been experimenting with meshtastic for emergency communication and location tracking in hiking scenarios. I've also seen some interesting services built on top of FRS that don't require licencing.
For HAMs there is always good ol' APRS :3
Kevin Karhan 
@duckz @MikeImBack that signal is mostly meant as a discrete sign of disteess / duress to be displayed towards police / firefighters / EMS / ... by folks being kidnapped and/or facing domestic abuse who can't communicate otherwise as they are being watched all the time by their abusers / captors.