Accessibility Services · Minister Destiny and Andrew — Journey of Help

Sign Language — Lesson 6

Help and Emergency

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The signs

HELP

Handshape
One fist with the thumb up, sitting on your other open palm.
Place
In front of your chest.
Movement
Lift both hands up together — the palm carries the fist upward.
Remember it: Help is one hand lifting the other up.

EMERGENCY

Handshape
Both hands in tight E shapes — fingers curled hard, thumbs across the front.
Place
Up beside your shoulders.
Movement
Shake both hands quickly.
Remember it: Emergency shakes both E hands — it cannot wait.

HURT / PAIN

Handshape
Both index fingers pointing at each other.
Place
Where it hurts — in front of that place on your body.
Movement
Jab the two fingertips toward each other twice, without quite touching.
Remember it: Hurt is two points jabbing — sharp, in one place.

SICK

Handshape
Both hands bent; use the middle fingers.
Place
One middle finger at your forehead, the other at your stomach.
Movement
Touch forehead and stomach at the same time, twice, with a sick face.
Remember it: Sick touches head and stomach — the whole body feels it.

CALL / PHONE

Handshape
A Y hand — thumb and little finger out, middle fingers folded.
Place
Thumb at your ear, little finger at your mouth.
Movement
Hold it there like a telephone. For CALL, add a small move forward from the ear.
Remember it: The Y hand is the telephone — ear and mouth at once.

DOCTOR

Handshape
Fingertips of one hand (M shape resting) — use your index and middle fingertips.
Place
On the inside of your other wrist.
Movement
Tap your fingertips on the wrist twice, like feeling a pulse.
Remember it: The doctor is found by the pulse at your wrist.

STOP

Handshape
One hand flat, palm up; the other hand flat, edge down.
Place
In front of your body.
Movement
Bring the edge of your top hand straight down onto your open palm, like a chop — land it and hold it there.
Remember it: Stop lands flat and stays — no more movement.

WAIT

Handshape
Both open hands, palms up, fingers a little curled.
Place
In front of your waist.
Movement
Wiggle all your fingers gently, like waiting hands.
Remember it: Waiting hands wiggle — hold on, hold on.

DANGER

Handshape
A fist with the thumb up, resting against the back of your other hand.
Place
In front of your chest.
Movement
Brush your thumb quickly up and off the back of the other hand, twice.
Remember it: Danger flicks the thumb up — warning, twice.

Try It — sign it yourself

  1. Sign HELP and CALL together: help is needed, make the call.
  2. Practice EMERGENCY and STOP until they are fast — these two must never be slow.
  3. Show someone where it would HURT, and sign it.

Hands learn by doing. Slow and clear beats fast and sloppy — every time.

Vocabulary — words to keep

WordSpellingWhat the sign doesA line to remember it by
HELPHelpLift both hands up together — the palm carries the fist upward.Help is one hand lifting the other up.
EMERGENCYEmergencyShake both hands quickly.Emergency shakes both E hands — it cannot wait.
HURT / PAINHurt / PainJab the two fingertips toward each other twice, without quite touching.Hurt is two points jabbing — sharp, in one place.
SICKSickTouch forehead and stomach at the same time, twice, with a sick face.Sick touches head and stomach — the whole body feels it.
CALL / PHONECall / PhoneHold it there like a telephone.The Y hand is the telephone — ear and mouth at once.
DOCTORDoctorTap your fingertips on the wrist twice, like feeling a pulse.The doctor is found by the pulse at your wrist.
STOPStopBring the edge of your top hand straight down onto your open palm, like a chop — land it and hold it there.Stop lands flat and stays — no more movement.
WAITWaitWiggle all your fingers gently, like waiting hands.Waiting hands wiggle — hold on, hold on.
DANGERDangerBrush your thumb quickly up and off the back of the other hand, twice.Danger flicks the thumb up — warning, twice.

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