You may have heard of Angel Shots before, but it turns out there are other signals that can help people (specifically women) in stressful situations.
- Angel Shots – Discreetly alerts bartenders that something is not right.
- You can order an "angel shot neat" for someone to escort you to your vehicle, an "angel shot dressed" for someone to call an Uber or Lyft, or an "angel shot with lime" for staff to call the local authorities.
- Secret signal for help – This is a hand motion for victims of domestic abuse that started last year when COVID first began.
- It was a way for women to discreetly ask for help without alerting their abusers or leaving a digital trace. (You can see it in a video below)
- Placing a Pizza Order to 911
- This is another way from domestic abuse victims to get help without raising suspicion. They can call 911, give their address and answer yes/no questions without alerting their abuser.
- The Black Dot on Hand
- This signal first went viral about 6 years ago. The idea behind the method is simple: Victims of domestic violence can draw a black dot on their palms as a signal to friends and family that they are being abused. To this day, it's one of the most recognizable nonverbal signals of abuse.
- STAN
- This is something that has gone viral since the tragic death of Gabby Petito. People on the internet speculated she was trying to send a message for help in a text to her mother. The text read: "Can you help Stan,I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls."
- People online claim that "Stan" is actually an acronym for "Send The Authorities Now," though it hasn't been verified as an official code by any professional bodies. However, as it's not quite as well-known as some of the other code words and signals, the use of STAN might not be as effective.
There are also some things you can do if you see or receive a distress call:
- 911 is not necessarily the best response for every instance involving a distress signal, and can sometimes put the abused person in more danger.
- Another option is you can try calling the person and asking them questions that can be answered with "yes" or "no" — such as "Would you like me to get in touch with a shelter on your behalf?"
- Also, don't be afraid to consult resources like the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
Source: Yahoo Life