How to sign “Emergency” in ASL
The BSL sign for “Emergency” isn't in our dictionary yet — it will be fingerspelled in BSL mode, never replaced with this ASL sign.
Step by step
- Curl both hands into E handshapes, folding the fingertips down to meet the thumbs.
- Hold both fists up in front of your shoulders, a few inches apart.
- Shake both hands frantically from side to side in short, rapid bursts.
- Keep the shaking tight and urgent, like an alarm that will not stop ringing.
- Turn your palms to face each other as the hands rattle back and forth.
- Wear a wide-eyed, alarmed expression — your face must match the urgency of the hands.
Practice tip
The speed sells it — a slow shake reads as a different sign, so let the E hands rattle.
Fingerspell “Emergency”
Letter by letter — a handy backup if you forget the sign above. This is not the sign itself.
Text-based guide researched from established ASL references (Lifeprint, university and public-health materials) and rewritten in original words. Signer-created photos and videos are a planned future upgrade.