Do you know the universal sign for "I need help?"

I did' nt know that. Thankyou.

The 15 year old raped in a park by 2 men cried out for help and was ignored by passers by.

No, Ask Angela is for women seeking escape when they are being harassed. It’s for bars, hotel receptions etc.

I thought asking for Angela was asking for sanitary towels? Or is a different girl's name .
I didn't know about tapping someone on that arm . If anyone did that to me I would ask them what did they want .

When I was a teen and young woman we would have just shouted help .

It's ok to have codes but unless they are published in places people can regularly see how are we supposed to know . Bus stops ,train stations ,toilets places where people regularly go should have posters explaining the signals and how to help.

That’s the point of the I need help sign, you don’t need to say anything, but Ask for Angela is useful if the woman is seeking refuge because she is being followed, for example.

I agree skydancer. If the woman/girl is up at the bar with the man in question he would hear her asking for Angela and could well know what she is doing.

If the woman is at the bar on her own or in the loo she would easily be able to say I need help.
I think I have read that sometimes the asking for Angela doesnt work as the staff havent got a clue.

Yes it’s been around a while and is universally known
Because Skydancer if you ask for help the abuser knows you’re asking for help but if you ask for a name it’s just that Trouble is everyone knows the ploy probably by now including the abuser
As for the hand signal that’s only useful if everyone knows about it most men and maybe women passing by wouldn’t think twice about it even if they saw it.
I ve yet to meet anyone whose tried either let alone be understood

What’s the point in asking for Angela? Why not just ask for help.

Yes, I knew it, we were shown in a training session when I was working (NHS).

I'd never heard of of this either but will ask DD, DIL and DGD.

Yes, what is the recommended action for the tapped person. I’d never heard of this and think that occasions when a woman who could make the sign but couldn’t walk away from the man herself must be quite rare.

It would be difficult to know how you could help though. What would you do? (I’m genuinely asking out of interest, not trying to be awkward.)

Yes - knew about it and asking for Angela.

Where I used to volunteer, callers could ask for Brenda - a totally different thing, for sex talk!!

I didn't know about this but glad I do now. I would hate to think I've missed a distress signal.

I've seen in on social media too, YouTube mainly.

You don't go up and tap strangers on the shoulder - the idea is to unobtrusively touch them as you pass them (maybe bump into them) to make them turn around and behind your back you do the hand sign - which is palm out, then fold the thumb in and then the fingers on top. Or when whoever you are with is not looking make the sign to someone across the room.

I saw a couple of videos where they tested it out and it seemed to work in a lot of cases, mainly with youngsters.

yes I've seen it too

I’ve never heard of it, so I’ve just Googled. It seems to have been created by a women’s group in Canada in 2020 and spread via TikTok. There’s no mention of tapping strangers on the arm, though, which I think could be dangerous in itself.

At least I’ve learnt something today, so thank you.

Yes, I've seen it on tv, have seen a couple of different ones using both child and adult actors.

Thank you for your post Magenta8. This is a useful thing to know. Who knows when any of us might come across someone needing help.

Oreo

Unless the people you are tapping on the arm know that sign how can they help?🤔
For GNers on here…how did you come to know this?

I've seen it on social media.

There have been several adverts on TV showing this sign.

Yes, I know it but only through a cinema advert so perhaps not publicised elsewhere ?

No I didnt know it either...but do now. I will ask my london living DD of she does when she comes today.
Do schools teach it does anyone know?

Yes, I've known about it for a long time.

I didn’t know it but I do now.