Topic Library — Learning to Sign: Signs for Help, Safety, and Health (Year 1 Foundations) — Minister Destiny's Testimony School for Adults

School: Minister Destiny Testimony Schools Track: Adult Class: Topic Library — Year 1 (Foundations) Presented by: Minister Destiny Marie Morgan, Muslim Ordained Minister

This lesson is educational information and is not legal advice. Laws and procedures vary by state and by case. If you are in danger right now, call 911. If you have a real case, talk to a lawyer — legal aid organizations help many people for free.

Before you start

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These signs exist for the worst minutes — a crash on a dark road, a collapse in a clinic waiting room, a fire alarm in a stairwell. Learn them calmly, in plain form, a few at a time, until a few signs done well are automatic. A steady HELP and a clear HURT, signed slowly, will carry you further than twenty signs signed in a panic.
This unit teaches American Sign Language (ASL) as used in the United States. Signs vary by region and signer; the forms here follow ASL University / Lifeprint (Dr. William Vicars), with variations noted where the sources flag them. This is educational information — not emergency training, and not interpreter or responder certification.

The lesson

Part 1. First: get through — saying who you are and asking for writing

Every emergency conversation with a Deaf person starts the same way: establish that you are Deaf (or that the other person is), and move to a channel that works. Pointing at yourself is how ASL says "I" or "me." To say "I am Deaf," point at your chest, then sign DEAF — Lifeprint teaches the phrase exactly that way: I DEAF. Hearing helpers use the same signs to recognize it instantly.

Writing is the bridge that always works — paper and pen, a phone note, a clinic whiteboard. WRITE PLEASE asks for it politely. SLOW PLEASE, the pair you will use in every conversation in this unit, asks the other person to sign again, more slowly; asking is respectful and ordinary. Get attention respectfully first: a wave in the line of sight (at eye level, not in the face), a light shoulder tap, or — where it is established practice — flicking the lights two or three times. Never grab an arm, snap your fingers, or shout: vision and gentle touch are the channels that work.

SIGN — I / ME (pointing)

Make it: Index finger extended, other fingers folded. Point the fingertip at the center of your own chest once, palm facing you. Neutral, direct face — a statement, not a plea.
Illustration brief SL-1: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: signer chest-up, dominant index touching center of chest, other hand relaxed. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel — static point). (d) Alt text: "A signer points an index finger at their own chest to mean I or me." (e) Caption: "I / ME — point at your own chest."

SIGN — DEAF

Make it: Index finger extended. Touch the tip (or side) of the finger to your cheek near your ear, move it in a small arc, and touch the cheek again near your mouth. Palm faces left or slightly forward. Both contacts stay on the cheek — not on the ear, not on the lips. Some signers go mouth-to-ear; both directions are common in the Deaf community.
Illustration brief SL-2: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: two panels — fingertip on cheek near ear, then after a small arc on cheek near mouth; curved arrow between. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "An index finger touches the cheek near the ear, arcs, and touches the cheek near the mouth for DEAF." (e) Caption: "DEAF — cheek near ear, arc, cheek near mouth."

SIGN — WRITE

Make it: Non-dominant hand flat, palm up — it is the paper. Pinch the dominant hand as if holding a pen, index tip touching thumb tip, and scribble quickly across the non-dominant palm once or twice. The base hand does not move.
Illustration brief SL-3: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: palm-up base hand; pinched dominant hand mid-scribble above it, short side-to-side arrow across the palm. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A pinched hand scribbles across an open palm, as if writing on paper, for WRITE." (e) Caption: "WRITE — scribble on your palm as if it were paper."

SIGN — PLEASE

Make it: Flat open hand placed over the center of your chest; circle it a few times, clockwise as seen by the person facing you. A hopeful, pleading expression is part of the sign. PLEASE usually comes at the end of a request, as an add-on showing you really mean it.
Illustration brief SL-4: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: flat hand on center of chest with circular arrow; hopeful expression. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A flat hand circles on the center of the chest for PLEASE." (e) Caption: "PLEASE — flat hand circling on your chest."

SIGN — SLOW

Make it: Both hands flat. Hold the non-dominant hand and forearm before you, back of the hand up. Rest the dominant flat hand, palm down, on the back of the non-dominant hand near the fingers, and draw it slowly up the forearm toward the elbow. To the wrist means ordinary "slow"; higher up the arm means "much slower."
Illustration brief SL-5: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: dominant palm starting on back of non-dominant hand, sliding up forearm; long straight arrow toward elbow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A flat hand slides slowly up the opposite forearm for SLOW." (e) Caption: "SLOW — slide your hand up the other forearm."

SIGN — PAPER

Make it: Both hands flat and open. Non-dominant hand palm up; dominant hand palm down just above it. Brush the heel of the dominant hand along the non-dominant palm toward your body, twice. A brush, not a clap — the clapping version is a different sign (SCHOOL).
Illustration brief SL-6: (a) Placement: Part 1. (b) Shows: palm-down dominant hand brushing toward the body along the palm-up hand; short repeated arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "One flat hand brushes along the other palm toward the body, twice, for PAPER." (e) Caption: "PAPER — brush one palm along the other, twice."

Put the Part together: wave or tap for attention, point at yourself, sign DEAF, then WRITE PLEASE, and hold out paper or a phone. If the other person signs back too fast, sign SLOW PLEASE and smile. You have a conversation.

Part 2. Emergency core — the signs for the first minute

HELP is the anchor of this unit — if you keep nothing else, keep HELP and WRITE PLEASE. EMERGENCY names the situation. DANGER warns. STOP halts. CALL says help is being summoned: Lifeprint's general phone-call sign is the Y handshape at the side of the head, moved outward; Deaf signers use it even when the call will be by text or video, and older TTY-based call signs exist but are growing less common. FIRE and POLICE name the two services most often needed first.

One honest note: no separate sign for SAFE is taught. Its form could not be verified on the authoritative pages checked, so it was left out rather than guessed. Responders calm a scene with WAIT + HELP (Part 6), which is taught and verified here.

SIGN — HELP

Make it: Non-dominant hand flat, palm up. Make a fist of the dominant hand, thumb sticking up, and set the fist on the open palm. Lift both hands together a few inches, as if the palm is raising the fist. In an emergency, sign it larger and repeat it, with the urgency plain on your face.
Illustration brief SL-7: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: fist with thumb up resting on flat palm-up hand; both rising together, upward arrow; urgent expression. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A fist with thumb up sits on an open palm and both hands lift together for HELP." (e) Caption: "HELP — fist on open palm, lift both hands up."

SIGN — EMERGENCY

Make it: Both hands in E handshapes (fingers curled tight, thumb tucked across the fingertips), one held up on each side of your head, palms forward. Shake both hands rapidly side to side. Wide eyes and an urgent face are part of the sign — it is meant to be seen across a room.
Illustration brief SL-8: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: E hand beside each side of head, both mid-shake with short side-to-side arrows; alarmed expression. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both hands in E handshapes shake rapidly beside the head for EMERGENCY." (e) Caption: "EMERGENCY — shake both E hands beside your head."

SIGN — DANGER

Make it: Non-dominant hand in a fist before your chest, palm facing you. Rest the back of the dominant thumb against the back of that fist and brush the thumb downward, two or three times. Serious face, head slightly forward. This sign also covers "dangerous" and "risk."
Illustration brief SL-9: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: palm-in fist at chest; dominant thumb brushing down its back, repeated, short downward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "The thumb brushes down the back of the opposite fist, repeated, for DANGER." (e) Caption: "DANGER — brush your thumb down the back of your fist."

SIGN — STOP

Make it: Both hands flat. Non-dominant hand flat, palm up, like a table. Raise the dominant hand on its edge, palm sideways, and bring it down firmly so its edge lands across the non-dominant palm — one sharp chop. Firm face; more force means more urgency.
Illustration brief SL-10: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: palm-up base hand; dominant hand on edge descending into it like a chop, bold downward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "One flat hand chops down edge-first onto the other open palm for STOP." (e) Caption: "STOP — chop one hand down onto the other palm."

SIGN — CALL

Make it: Y handshape — thumb and pinky extended, other fingers folded, like a telephone handset. Hold it at the side of your head, thumb near your ear and pinky near your mouth, then move it outward a few inches. Repeat it with EMERGENCY or HELP to show what is being called for.
Illustration brief SL-11: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: Y handshape at side of head like a phone handset, moving outward, short arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A Y handshape held like a telephone at the side of the head moves outward for CALL." (e) Caption: "CALL — Y hand at your head, like holding a phone."

SIGN — FIRE

Make it: Both hands open, fingers spread and slightly bent, held before your waist or chest, palms facing your body, fingertips up. Wiggle all the fingers while raising the hands slightly — flames rising. Alarmed face; bigger, faster movement for a bigger fire.
Illustration brief SL-12: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: both open hands, palms in, fingertips up, fingers wiggling as hands rise; wavy upward arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both hands with wiggling fingers rise like flames for FIRE." (e) Caption: "FIRE — wiggle your fingers upward like flames."

SIGN — POLICE

Make it: C handshape (curved thumb and index, as if holding a badge), palm facing you. Tap the thumb-and-index side of the C against your upper chest, where a badge would be pinned, once or twice. Neutral-to-serious face.
Illustration brief SL-13: (a) Placement: Part 2. (b) Shows: C handshape tapping upper chest at badge position, small contact arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A C handshape taps the upper chest where a badge would be, for POLICE." (e) Caption: "POLICE — tap a C hand at your chest, where the badge sits."

Lifeprint's medical-signing phrases build these into sentences you will actually see: "There is a fire! Call 911!" is FIRE + CALL; "This is an emergency!" is EMERGENCY signed with emphasis, right now. Learn the singles first; the phrases assemble themselves.

Part 3. Body and health — saying what is wrong and where

Health signs answer three questions: what is wrong, where is it, and what does the person need. HURT is the workhorse: Lifeprint teaches it can be signed at the body part that hurts — at the jaw, a toothache; at the forehead, a headache — so "where does it hurt?" is often just HURT WHERE? (Part 6 practices asking it back.) SICK describes the whole body feeling ill. MEDICINE covers medicine and medication. HOSPITAL, DOCTOR, and NURSE name the place and the people. DOCTOR carries generational variation — older signers may use an M handshape, many dictionaries a D — so this unit teaches Lifeprint's current recommended bent-hand form, and you will see the others.

One exclusion, stated honestly: no sign for ALLERGY is taught. The word appears in Lifeprint's medical phrases ("Are you allergic to anything?"), but its form could not be verified on the pages checked, so it is not guessed. In a real clinic moment, fingerspell A-L-L-E-R-G-Y or write it — accuracy beats a wrong sign when the topic can harm someone. AMBULANCE, below, shows an emergency vehicle's flashing lights, as Lifeprint's curriculum notes the concept; many signers fingerspell it too.

SIGN — HURT / PAIN

Make it: Both hands, index fingers extended, fingertips pointing at each other. Jab them toward each other twice — or twist them in opposite directions as they meet, for an injury. For a specific place, sign it right at that place. Your face carries the amount of pain.
Illustration brief SL-14: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: index fingers jabbing toward each other; second panel places the sign at the jaw. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Two index fingers jab toward each other for HURT or PAIN." (e) Caption: "HURT / PAIN — jab index fingers toward each other; sign it where it hurts."

SIGN — SICK

Make it: Both hands open, fingers spread, middle fingers bent down. Touch one bent middle finger to your forehead and the other to your stomach at the same time, with a slight twist of both hands. Face slack and unwell — head and stomach together: the whole body feels ill.
Illustration brief SL-15: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: bent-middle-finger hands touching forehead and stomach together, twisting slightly; unwell expression. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Bent middle fingers touch the forehead and the stomach at the same time for SICK." (e) Caption: "SICK — bent middle fingers at forehead and stomach."

SIGN — WHERE

Make it: Index finger extended, pointing up. Wag it side to side a few times from a loose wrist. This is a question word, and the face is part of the grammar: eyebrows drawn together and down, head slightly forward. Without the question face, the sign is unfinished.
Illustration brief SL-16: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: raised index wagging side to side, double-headed arrow; furrowed-brow question expression. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "An upright index finger wags side to side, with a furrowed brow, for WHERE." (e) Caption: "WHERE — wag your index finger, with a question face."

SIGN — MEDICINE

Make it: Non-dominant hand flat, palm up. Rest the tip of the dominant hand's bent middle finger (other fingers spread) in the center of the palm and rock it back and forth, as if grinding a pill into the palm. Neutral, focused face.
Illustration brief SL-17: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: bent middle fingertip grinding in center of open palm, small back-and-forth arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A bent middle fingertip wiggles in the opposite palm, like grinding a pill, for MEDICINE." (e) Caption: "MEDICINE — grind your middle fingertip in your palm."

SIGN — HOSPITAL

Make it: H handshape — index and middle fingers extended together, other fingers folded. Use the H fingertips to draw a cross on the opposite upper arm: one short stroke down, one across, like the cross on a medical building. Neutral face.
Illustration brief SL-18: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: H handshape tracing a cross on the upper arm; two short arrows, vertical and horizontal. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "An H handshape draws a cross on the upper arm for HOSPITAL." (e) Caption: "HOSPITAL — draw a cross on your upper arm with an H hand."

SIGN — DOCTOR

Make it: Non-dominant hand relaxed or flat, palm up. With the dominant hand's fingertips together and slightly bent, tap the fingertips twice on the inside of the non-dominant wrist, where a pulse is taken. You may also see a D handshape — or, from older signers, an M — at the same wrist spot; all three mean DOCTOR.
Illustration brief SL-19: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: bent dominant fingertips tapping inside of opposite wrist twice, at pulse point; small downward arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Fingertips tap the inside of the opposite wrist, where a pulse is taken, for DOCTOR." (e) Caption: "DOCTOR — tap fingertips at the wrist, like taking a pulse."

SIGN — NURSE

Make it: The DOCTOR sign with one change: an N handshape on the dominant hand — index and middle fingers folded over the thumb — tapping its fingertips twice on the inside of the non-dominant wrist, at the same pulse point. Lifeprint teaches NURSE as exactly this initialized form of DOCTOR.
Illustration brief SL-20: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: N handshape tapping inside of opposite wrist twice, mirroring the DOCTOR panel. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "An N handshape taps the inside of the opposite wrist for NURSE." (e) Caption: "NURSE — DOCTOR's wrist tap, with an N hand."

SIGN — AMBULANCE

Make it: Both hands open, held up beside your head, palms forward. Flash the fingers open and closed alternately, left then right, like the flashing lights on an emergency vehicle. Urgent face. If the person looks puzzled, fingerspell A-M-B-U-L-A-N-C-E instead.
Illustration brief SL-21: (a) Placement: Part 3. (b) Shows: open hands beside head, fingers flashing alternately, small alternating arrows. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Open hands beside the head flash their fingers alternately, like emergency lights, for AMBULANCE." (e) Caption: "AMBULANCE — flash your hands beside your head like emergency lights."

Part 4. People and permission — the interpreter, need, and waiting

The most important health sentence here is I NEED AN INTERPRETER, built from three taught signs: point at yourself (Part 1), NEED, INTERPRETER. An interpreter is not a favor, and not a family member pressed into service; in medical and legal settings a qualified interpreter is the professional standard. The fuller statement of those rights — what the law requires, and of whom — lives in this course's Rights unit; this unit teaches the signs to ask, clearly and early.

NEED also means "must" or "have to," which is why NEED HELP YOU? — "Do you need help?" — is a core Lifeprint medical phrase. WAIT lowers the temperature of every scene: "stay, I am still here, this is still happening." BATHROOM is the practical sign everybody needs within the hour — the everyday T-hand form, with the politer R-hand RESTROOM variant Lifeprint records some Deaf elders preferring in mixed company. No sign for LOST is taught: its form could not be verified on the pages checked. If you are lost, use WRITE PLEASE and show your destination on paper or a phone — honest communication, not a failure.

SIGN — INTERPRETER

Make it: Both hands in F handshapes (thumb and index in a ring, other fingers up), facing each other before your chest. Twist them alternately forward and back. To name the person, add the agent ending: both flat hands down the sides of the body.
Illustration brief SL-22: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: two F handshapes twisting alternately at the chest; inset of the person ending. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Two F handshapes twist alternately in front of the chest for INTERPRETER." (e) Caption: "INTERPRETER — twist two F hands back and forth at your chest."

SIGN — NEED

Make it: X handshape — index finger hooked, other fingers folded, thumb resting along the fingers. Hold it before your chest, palm down, and bend the hooked finger downward in a firm nodding motion, once or twice. The firmer the bend, the stronger the need; your face carries the intensity.
Illustration brief SL-23: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: palm-down X handshape, hooked index bending downward, short arrow. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A hooked index finger in an X handshape bends downward for NEED." (e) Caption: "NEED — bend a hooked index finger down, firmly."

SIGN — WAIT

Make it: Both hands open and slightly cupped before your waist, palms up. Wiggle all the fingers gently, as if your hands are idly passing time. Calm face — WAIT signed calmly calms the other person; WAIT signed frantically does the opposite.
Illustration brief SL-24: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: cupped palm-up hands at waist level, fingers wiggling gently, small arrows at fingertips; calm expression. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "Both open hands, palms up, wiggle their fingers gently for WAIT." (e) Caption: "WAIT — wiggle the fingers of both palm-up hands."

SIGN — BATHROOM

Make it: T handshape — a fist with the thumb tucked up between the index and middle fingers — held before your chest and shaken side to side a few times. The politer variant, RESTROOM, uses an R handshape (index and middle crossed) bounced twice in a small arc. Ordinary face; an ordinary request, signed ordinarily.
Illustration brief SL-25: (a) Placement: Part 4. (b) Shows: T handshape shaking side to side at chest level, double-headed arrow; inset of R-hand RESTROOM variant. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A T handshape shakes side to side for BATHROOM." (e) Caption: "BATHROOM — shake a T hand side to side."

Now build the sentence. Point at your chest: I. Sign NEED. Sign INTERPRETER. Then sign WAIT, calmly — and write the request down as well. A written request leaves a record, and the Rights unit explains why that record matters. Ask early, ask in writing, and keep asking politely until the interpreter, in person or by video, is actually there.

Part 5. How a Deaf person reaches 911 — text, video, and relay

No new signs in this Part; the skill is knowing the systems. A Deaf person reaches emergency help four main ways, and a hearing helper who knows them can save minutes.

Text-to-911. Where available, a person can text 911 from a mobile phone and exchange texts with the call center. Massachusetts supports Text-to-911 statewide — every Massachusetts 911 center can receive texts. Elsewhere, availability is area-by-area, which is why the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) guidance is: call if you can, text if you can't. A voice call, when possible, still gives the center more to work with. Texting has hard limits: use regular text messaging (SMS) with a text or data plan; plain words only — no pictures, videos, emojis, or group messages; keep messages short, because long ones can arrive broken or out of order. Where the service is unavailable, carriers must send an automatic "bounce-back" message telling you to reach help another way. Most important habit: put your location in the first text. A text does not locate you the way a call can, so begin with your town and best address or landmark, then the help needed (police, fire, or medical), then answer the call-taker's questions.

Videophone and Video Relay Service (VRS). Many Deaf people call on a videophone (VP) — a video phone or app where they sign on camera. When a VP user calls a hearing number, a VRS interpreter joins, signing what the hearing person says and voicing what the Deaf person signs. A Deaf person can reach 911 this way. Hearing person on a relay call: speak directly to the caller — "Are you hurt?" not "Ask her if she's hurt" — and remember the interpreter voices everything you say.

Dial 7-1-1 relay. Dial 7-1-1 connects a caller to a Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) operator — a communications assistant — who relays between a text or voice user and the other party. It is fast, functional, and free anywhere in the United States. Two FCC rules: 7-1-1 does not reach video and internet-based relay (those calls start on the internet); and in an emergency, TTY users should call 911 directly rather than through 7-1-1.

TTY. A TTY (teletypewriter; also called a TDD) is older text-telephone technology — typed conversation over a phone line. Still encountered with older equipment and some institutions, but texting and videophones have largely replaced it.

Whichever channel is used, dispatch needs the same things, in order: where you are, what happened, who is hurt and how, and a way to reach you back. Location first — help cannot be sent to a place that has not been named.

Part 6. Signs a responder gives back — short phrases

A conversation needs two directions. This Part builds responder phrases from signs taught in this unit, plus two small pointing signs. YOU is a point at the person you mean. The grammar that turns signs into questions lives on the face, and Lifeprint is explicit: a yes/no question takes raised eyebrows, a slight forward lean, and a hold on the last sign; a wh-question (WHERE, WHO) takes eyebrows drawn together and down, head slightly forward. Without the face, you have made a statement nobody can answer.

SIGN — YOU

Make it: Index finger extended, other fingers folded. Point the fingertip directly at the person you are speaking to, at chest height. Hold the point a moment longer, with raised eyebrows, to make it a question.
Illustration brief SL-26: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: index finger pointing outward toward viewer at chest height; raised-eyebrow question expression. (c) Type: Sign diagram (single panel — static point). (d) Alt text: "An index finger points at the other person for YOU." (e) Caption: "YOU — point your index finger at the person."

SIGN — WHO

Make it: Index finger extended, then bent at the joint. Place the fingertip against your chin, just below your lower lip, and bend and straighten it a few times. Eyebrows drawn together and down, head slightly forward — the wh-question face.
Illustration brief SL-27: (a) Placement: Part 6. (b) Shows: bent index fingertip at chin below lip, bending and straightening, small arrow; furrowed-brow expression. (c) Type: Sign diagram (two-panel start/end with movement arrow). (d) Alt text: "A bent index finger taps and bends at the chin, with a furrowed brow, for WHO." (e) Caption: "WHO — bend your index finger at your chin, question face on."

Now the phrases, as Lifeprint's medical-signing lesson builds them. Are you hurt? — YOU HURT YOU, raised eyebrows, lean in, hold the last point. Where does it hurt? — HURT WHERE, furrowed brow held through WHERE. Who? — sign WHO alone with the wh-face and offer paper. Wait — help is coming — WAIT, calmly and held, then HELP: presence and action promised, without a time you cannot guarantee. Add CALL DOCTOR or CALL POLICE when that is what you have actually done. Practice until face and hands arrive together; that pairing is what makes you understood.

Words to know — Learning to Sign — Help, Safety & Health Signs

Relay service — a service where a communications assistant or interpreter passes messages between a Deaf or speech-disabled caller and a hearing caller, by text (dial 7-1-1) or video.
Videophone — a video phone or app used to sign on camera; through Video Relay Service, an interpreter voices the signed call to a hearing person.
Text-to-911 — texting 911 and exchanging texts with the call center; available statewide in Massachusetts, area-by-area elsewhere.
TTY — a teletypewriter (also called a TDD): older equipment for typed conversation over a telephone line.
Interpreter — a qualified professional who interprets between ASL and a spoken language; the standard for full communication in medical and legal settings — not a family member pressed into service.
Emergency — an occasion requiring immediate action to protect life, safety, or health.
Allergy — a harmful body reaction to a substance such as a food or medicine; in this unit, a word to fingerspell or write exactly.
Nonmanual markers — meaning carried without the hands: eyebrows, facial expression, head movement, and lean — ASL's grammar for questions and intensity.
Attention-getting signal — a respectful visual or touch signal — a wave in the line of sight, a light shoulder tap, flicked lights — used to start a conversation with a Deaf person.

Myths vs facts — Learning to Sign — Help, Safety & Health Signs

Myth: Deaf people can't call 911. Fact: Deaf people reach 911 by Text-to-911 where available, by videophone through Video Relay Service, and by relay — and Massachusetts accepts texts to 911 statewide.
Myth: Shouting helps a Deaf person understand you. Fact: Shouting distorts the face and can read as anger. Face the person, keep your expression clear, sign slowly, or write.
Myth: An interpreter is the same as a family member who signs. Fact: A qualified interpreter is a trained professional bound to interpret fully and neutrally; high-stakes medical and legal conversations call for one.
Myth: Writing notes is always enough in an emergency. Fact: Writing bridges short exchanges, but it is slow, assumes shared written language and free hands, and cannot carry a full medical or legal conversation — hence interpreters and the Part 5 systems.
Myth: A Deaf person will always have a phone or a TTY. Fact: Phones break, batteries die, and TTYs are older technology many no longer own. Paper, patience, and steady signs are the backup always in your hands.

Think it through — Learning to Sign — Help, Safety & Health Signs

The situation: At a rest stop off the highway, you find a man sitting on the curb holding his left arm, rocking slightly. He sees you, points at himself, and signs DEAF, then HURT — signed hard, twice, right at the arm. A small crowd is gathering, and someone behind you is shouting questions at him. You have your phone and a notebook. Walk the encounter in this unit's order.

Walk it through: (1) Get through first — Part 1: wave into his line of sight, point at yourself, answer in kind. Sign SLOW PLEASE; hold up the notebook: WRITE PLEASE. One calm person facing him beats five voices behind him. (2) Name the situation — Part 2: sign HELP, then CALL, pointing at the phone so he sees help being summoned, not just discussed. (3) Ask the health questions — Parts 3 and 6: YOU HURT YOU with raised eyebrows, then HURT WHERE — let him show you; he already has. Fingerspell or write A-L-L-E-R-G-Y before anyone offers a pain reliever, and write his answers down. (4) Ask for the professional — Part 4: NEED INTERPRETER?, and write the request where responders will see it. (5) Reach 911 the working way — Part 5: he can text 911 himself (Massachusetts accepts it statewide), location first; if you call, location first too. (6) Stay the responder — Part 6: WAIT, calmly, and HELP again, as sirens reach you and not him. Tell him what is coming before it arrives: CALL AMBULANCE.

Try this — Learning to Sign — Help, Safety & Health Signs

☐ Practice the emergency six — HELP, EMERGENCY, HURT, CALL, FIRE, POLICE — in front of a mirror until you can sign them without thinking about your hands.
☐ Teach one family member HELP and HURT, and agree on the shoulder tap and the wave as your household's attention signals.
☐ Save a note on your phone that reads "I am Deaf — please text me" (or, to help: "Please write — SLOW PLEASE"), and check that you can open it in under ten seconds.
☐ Sign the four Part 6 phrases — YOU HURT YOU? / HURT WHERE? / WHO? / WAIT + HELP — to a partner and have them check your question face: raised brows for yes/no, furrowed brows for wh-questions.
☐ Write out, on paper you keep, the first Text-to-911 message you would send from your own home: town, address, kind of help needed. Location first.

Resources to keep — Learning to Sign — Help, Safety & Health Signs

911 — if you or someone else is in danger right now; in Massachusetts you can also text 911.
ASL University / Lifeprint — lifeprint.com — Dr. William Vicars's free ASL lessons and sign dictionary; the source for every sign form in this unit.
Gallaudet University — gallaudet.edu — the university of the Deaf community; ASL and Deaf culture resources.
Hands & Voices — handsandvoices.org — support and communication resources for families of Deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Massachusetts State 911 Department — mass.gov — official Text-to-911 information for the Commonwealth.
988 (call or text) — if an emergency has become a personal crisis and you need support now.

What you earned / what's next — Learning to Sign — Help, Safety & Health Signs

✅ Learning to Sign — Help, Safety & Health Signs complete (quiz score 80% or higher): You can get a Deaf person's attention respectfully, say I am Deaf and ask for writing and slowness, sign the emergency core and body-and-health signs, build I NEED AN INTERPRETER, explain how Text-to-911, videophone relay, dial 7-1-1, and TTY reach help, and ask the responder questions back — question face included.

Your certificate

Minister Destiny Testimony Schools Certificate of Completion — Learning to Sign — Help, Safety & Health Signs

This certificate is presented by Muslim Ordained Minister Destiny Marie Morgan

Awarded to: ______________________________ (write your name here after you download — your name is never collected or stored by this school)

Date completed: ______________

Congratulations. You now hold a few steady signs for somebody's worst minute — and the calm to sign them slowly. Keep practicing; somebody will be glad you did. — Minister Destiny Marie Morgan

This is a certificate of educational completion from Minister Destiny Testimony Schools. It is not a state license, a government certification, or legal training for representing anyone.

What's next: Return to the Topic Library for your next Year 1 Foundations unit.

Sources

ASL University / Lifeprint (lifeprint.com) — Dr. William Vicars — sign entries and lessons for DEAF, WRITE, PLEASE, SLOW, PAPER, HURT/PAIN, DOCTOR, NURSE, CALL, BATHROOM/RESTROOM, and Lesson 1 indexing and question markers (YOU, WHERE, WHO); all sign forms checked against Lifeprint, Oct 21, 2026.
ASL University / Lifeprint (lifeprint.com) — Medical Signing phrases lesson — phrase frames in Parts 2, 3, 4, 6 (NEED HELP YOU?; YOU HURT YOU?; HURT WHERE?; YOU NEED INTERPRETER YOU?; FIRE + CALL; EMERGENCY right-NOW), checked Oct 21, 2026.
Massachusetts State 911 Department (mass.gov) — "Text-to-911 Is Available in Massachusetts" FAQs and campaign materials — statewide Text-to-911; voice-call-whenever-possible guidance; SMS limits, plain-text and location-first instructions; bounce-back, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov) — "Text to 911: What You Need To Know" — availability by area, voice call preferred, bounce-back rule, TTY/relay fallback, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov) — "711 for Telecommunications Relay Service" — dial 7-1-1 connects to a relay operator, fast, functional, and free; 7-1-1 does not reach video/internet relay; in an emergency TTY users call 911 directly, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Gallaudet University (gallaudet.edu) — Deaf culture framing and terminology (capital-D Deaf), checked Oct 21, 2026.
Hands & Voices (handsandvoices.org) — family communication framing, checked Oct 21, 2026.

Your Progress — On Your Device Only — Learning to Sign — Help, Safety & Health Signs

Learning outcomes: On completing this unit, the student can:

get a Deaf person's attention respectfully and establish communication (I DEAF; WRITE PLEASE; SLOW PLEASE)
produce and recognize the emergency-core signs HELP, EMERGENCY, DANGER, STOP, CALL, FIRE, and POLICE as taught in Part 2
produce and recognize the body-and-health signs HURT/PAIN, SICK, WHERE, MEDICINE, HOSPITAL, DOCTOR, NURSE, and AMBULANCE as taught in Part 3, including signing HURT at the body part affected
build and use the sentence I NEED AN INTERPRETER from taught signs, and use WAIT and BATHROOM appropriately
explain, in order, how Text-to-911, videophone/Video Relay Service, dial 7-1-1 relay, and TTY reach emergency help, including the location-first rule for texts to 911
ask YOU HURT YOU?, HURT WHERE?, and WHO? with the correct nonmanual question markers, and reassure with WAIT + HELP

Study time: Approximately 1.5 hours — an estimate covering reading, sign practice, activities, and the test. Students move at their own pace.
Assessment: A 10-question test drawn only from this unit's lesson. 80% or higher passes and earns the unit certificate. Answers are not shown; your score is saved only in your own browser on this device, and retakes are allowed.
Level: Topic Library — Year 1 (Foundations) · Adult school · working rank on completion path: Freshman → Sophomore.
Version: Version 1.0 — October 2026.

Minister Destiny Testimony Schools — Adult. Educational information only, not legal advice. Help lines: 911 for emergencies · 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988).

Ready to test? This course's test is given at the Testing Center. Answers are never shown; score at least 80% to earn your certificate of completion. You may retake the test as many times as you need — each retake presents the questions in a different order, with the answer choices in a different order too.