Whether a woman, man, or child not all victims of abuse have the ability to communicate verbally. April 15, 2024 marks American Sign Language Day and we urge you to learn or share 5 commonly used options to communicate that help is needed.

1️⃣ If you're in a public situation, using the "help" sign is always an option. Head over to the link to see the sign for help: https://www.instyle.com/beauty/health-fitness/distress-signals-abuse-signs-guide

2️⃣ If you're in a bar or restaurant, ordering in a certain way will let your bartender or server know that you're in need of help. Ordering an "angel shot neat" for someone to escort you to your car. Ordering an "angel shot with lime" for staff to call the authorities.

3️⃣ Call 911 to place a pizza order. This has been successfully used by many. The 911 dispatcher will know something is awry, ask for the address, and only ask yes or no questions.

4️⃣ The Black Dot drawn on your palm will indicate to others that you are being abused.

5️⃣ While it is not known how generally aware others are about the use of STAN, authorities believe it was used by 22-year-old Gabby Petito before her death. Texting STAN stands for "send the authorities now."

Source: InStyle
📸: Getty Images