A six-year-old girl in Austria recently saved her mother, herself and her baby brother with one silent gesture to the police after a car crash: the international “Signal for Help”. Earlier, a 14-year-old girl in Ludwigshafen used the same signal to stop a sexual assault on a playground, and in a McDonald’s in Milan a young woman warned staff this way when a man refused to let her go.

In all of these cases, one quiet hand signal made all the difference.

What is the “Signal for Help”?

The “Signal for Help” is a simple one-handed SOS gesture:

  1. Raise one hand, palm facing forward.
  2. Fold your thumb into your palm.
  3. Fold your four fingers down over your thumb in one smooth motion.

It was created in 2020 by the Canadian Women’s Foundation as a discreet cry for help for people in situations of violence or coercion who cannot safely call out or use their phone. The sign spread quickly via social media and is now recognised and used in many countries.

What should you do if you see it?

If you see someone, especially a child, deliberately making this gesture in a situation that feels wrong:

  • Take it seriously but stay calm.
    Ask yourself: does this person look scared, controlled, or unusually quiet while someone else dominates everything?
  • Respond safely and discreetly.
    If you know the person, send a short message (text, app):
    “Are you safe?” / “Do you want me to call the police?”, a simple yes/no is enough.
  • If you think there is immediate danger: call the emergency number (e.g. 112).
    Report that you saw the international help hand signal, where you are, what the person and any potential offender look like, and any vehicle or licence plate details.
  • Do not put yourself at risk.
    Stay nearby if it is safe, but do not try to intervene physically or play the hero.

AMBER Alert Europe’s role in child safety

Knowing this signal, and reacting safely, can be a small but powerful way to protect children and young people. At AMBER Alert Europe, the European Centre for Missing Children, we work with experts across Europe to prevent disappearances and violence against children. Sharing the “Signal for Help” is one more step towards a safer environment where children are seen, heard and helped in time.

For more information, please contact us at info@amberalert.eu.