3 Subtle Danger Signs that Could Save Women's Lives

A woman was recently rescued from being kidnapped after a stranger at a gasoline station recognized her hand signal that she needed help. A driver also rescued a 16-year-old girl because she used a hand signal through a car window. Knowing the subtle danger signs could save you or a person's life.

Not every victim can verbalize abuse or that they are in danger. Hence, learning non-verbal cues is crucial for them to get help.

Signal for help

A 16-year-old was reported missing for weeks and was found by authorities in Laurel County, Kentucky after a driver saw the teen "signal for help" through the passenger window of a moving car. The driver then called 911, which eventually saved the girl. 

The teenager said she learned about the hand signal on Tiktok. The distress signal was created by the Canadian Women's Foundation, a non-profit that helps women and girls experiencing abuse and poverty. The signal was developed when the pandemic started so domestic abuse victims could call for help without leaving a digital trace or alerting the abusers. The video demonstrations of the signal went viral on Tiktok in 2020, USA Today reports.

The signal is done by holding up the palm facing the person you are communicating with; tuck your thumb into the palm, and fold the four fingers down over the thumb in a "trapping" motion. Canadian Women's Foundation highlights that the signal is a fluid motion, not a fixed position.

Read Also: Single Dad Recognizes Woman's Hand Signal to Alert Alleged Kidnapping

Angel Shots

In the U.S., bars across America posted signs in ladies' rooms with instructions for ordering angel shots. The code is meant to discreetly alert the bartender that the person requesting the drink is in danger. The code word "angel shot" comes in different levels. An "angel shot neat" means someone needs to escort you to your vehicle. "Angel shot dressed" means someone call Uber or Lyft. "Angel shot with lime" is a code that tells the staff to contact the local authorities. 

Establishments will handle the situation once the code is sent to the staff. Celebrities like Demi Lovato have advocated the code. Bartenders also support the code as it says a lot of important information without directly saying you need help in front of the abuser or person making the woman feel unsafe, the Budget Branders said.

Placing a Pizza Order to 911

A woman from Ohio reported a domestic violence incident against her mom by calling 911 and asking to "order a pizza" to convey her home address without alerting the abuser. The dispatcher recognized that the woman was in danger and communicated with the caller with questions that could be answered with yes or no.

Dispatchers told the responders to turn off their sirens and not alert the abuser. The caller said her mother's live-in boyfriend came home drunk and started to punch and beat her mom before she made the call. Since the incident, domestic violence support groups started teaching the strategy so victims could alarm the authorities without alerting the abusers, as per NBC News.

Related Article: Police Appeal For Help in Searching for Suspect Who Stabbed a Father-To-Be at Sydney Easter Show