How to Do the SOS Hand Sign & Discreetly Ask for Help

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Plus, what to do when you spot the SOS hand signal yourself

Co-authored by Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: August 27, 2026 Fact Checked

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• SOS Hand Sign Explained
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• Doing the SOS Hand Sign
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• Responding to the SOS Hand Sign
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• Origin
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• Other Ways to Signal for Help
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• Video

|Show more |Show less

If you’re ever in a dangerous or violent situation, the SOS hand sign can help signal to others that you need help. It’s a simple signal intended to discreetly communicate that you’re in danger, and in this article, we explain everything you need to know about it. Read out to learn how to do the SOS hand sign, what to do if you see someone else doing it, other ways to signal for help, and more.

The Universal Signal for Help Explained

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The Universal Signal for Help is a one-handed SOS gesture used to discreetly express that you’re in danger and/or unable to safely speak. To do it, raise one hand with the palm facing forward. Tuck your thumb into your palm. Then repeatedly fold your four fingers down over the thumb until someone notices.

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

What is the SOS hand sign?

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1. 
   The SOS hand sign is a discreet, universal signal for help. Invented in 2020 by the Canadian Women’s Foundation, this quick, easy-to-perform signal is a way to ask for help when dealing with violence or danger. Although it was initially created to help those experiencing domestic, sexual, or gender-based violence, the signal has since become a universal way to ask for help when you’re in unsafe situations.

   • The Canadian Women’s Foundation intends for the signal to communicate that a person is not safe and should be contacted through other means to talk about what’s going on.
   • People may make this signal for a variety of reasons, including:
     • Getting into a car crash
     • Being trapped in a house fire
     • Being verbally or physically bullied by another person
     • Stuck in the presence of a dangerous person
     • Taking a hard fall and not being able to get up
     • Dealing with an injury and not being able to verbally communicate it
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Do the SOS Hand Sign

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1. 
   Face your palm out, tuck your thumb, and repeatedly cover it with your fingers. The SOS hand sign, also known as the Universal Signal for Help, was designed to be an easy, deliberate signal that others could quickly recognize. To do it, follow these steps:

   • Raise one hand and face the palm forward.
   • Tuck your thumb into your palm.
   • Fold the four fingers down over your thumb in one motion.
   • Raise your four fingers, then repeatedly fold them down until the signal is noticed.

Section 3 of 5:

What to Do When You See the SOS Hand Sign

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   Stay calm and assess the immediate situation. Seeing the SOS hand sign may startle you or make you feel like you need to save someone as soon as possible, but it’s best to remain calm and assess the situation to see what’s going on. Ask yourself if the person looks scared or uncomfortable, then reach out and check in when it’s safe to do so.
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   Check on the signaler when it’s safe to see if they’re okay. When you notice that the signaler is alone, check in on them and ask if they’re okay or if they need anything, whether it be support, someone to come over, or something more serious. If you’re in public, discreetly ask the person signaling if they need support, help, or the police. Try to ask yes-or-no questions, as those are the easiest to discreetly respond to.

   • If you know the person and/or they make this signal on a video call, reach out over text or direct message to see if they’re okay or need to talk about anything.
   • Be supportive when reaching out to them. Acknowledge their experiences, listen, and let them vent or tell you what they need.
   • If you’re in public, discreetly ask the person signaling if they need support, help, or the police.
3. 
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   Call emergency services if there’s immediate danger. If you know that someone needs help, whether it be due to a domestic situation or a serious accident, call emergency services to get professionals on the scene. For example, if there’s an apartment fire and someone signals the SOS hand sign to you, call 911 and ask for the fire department.

   • When you call emergency services, explain the situation and let them know that you saw the Universal Signal for Help.
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   Avoid putting yourself in harm’s way. Even though you may want to immediately jump in and take matters into your own hands, stepping into the situation without taking any precautions or calling emergency services can get you hurt. Stay nearby to keep the signaler safe and be a witness, but don’t physically jump in. Leave that to law enforcement.
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Section 4 of 5:

Origin of the SOS Hand Sign

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1. The SOS hand sign was invented in April 2020 by the Canadian Women’s Foundation. This hand sign was created during the Covid-19 pandemic to help those experiencing gender-based violence. Since people were quarantined inside of their homes, the risk for domestic violence was higher, and the Canadian Women’s Foundation created the hand sign as a way to discreetly let others know that you weren’t safe over a video call.

   • Initially launched on April 14, 2020, the SOS Hand Sign was created as a tool to help others communicate that they needed help.
   • After the hand sign was created, it went viral on TikTok and was eventually adopted by the Women’s Funding Network (WFN), an international philanthropic alliance fighting for gender equality.
   • After being adopted by the WFN, the SOS hand sign became a universal signal used to ask for help in any situation, not just domestic violence.

Section 5 of 5:

Other Ways to Signal for Help

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1. 1
   If you’re at a bar, ask for an Angel Shot. An Angel Shot is a code word that tells the bartender that you feel unsafe or threatened by another guest. Once the bartender gets the “order,” they’ll take the appropriate measures to ensure that the security team discreetly keeps you safe. There are also specific types of Angel Shots that you can order for different situations, including:

   • Angel Shot neat (or straight): Communicates that you want to be escorted to your car by staff or security.
   • Angel Shot on ice (or on the rocks): Communicates that you’d like the bar staff to order you a ride-share vehicle or taxi. Security will typically accompany you until the vehicle arrives.
   • Angel Shot with lime: Communicates that you’d like the bar to contact the police immediately.
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   If you’re experiencing domestic violence, put a Black Dot on your hand. This idea comes from the Black Dot campaign that was popular in 2015. If you’re a victim of domestic violence, the campaign urges you to draw a black dot on your hand as a silent signal that lets others know what you’re dealing with. It’s intended to be drawn with a washable pen or marker in face-to-face interactions so that it may be quickly wiped off.
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   If you’re in need of support at a participating location, ask for “Angela.” In the United Kingdom, “Ask for Angela” is a campaign that encourages you to ask staff members for someone named Angela. At participating locations, asking for “Angela” lets the staff know that you’re in need of help without overtly saying it, and they will respond calmly and appropriately to ensure that you get that help.

   • To see if the location is participating in the “Ask for Angela” campaign, look for posters and signage in common areas or the women’s bathroom.
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