Welcome to ASL Basics 6, where you’ll learn essential signs for emergencies, safety-related vocabulary, and how to ask and answer yes/no questions. This unit prepares you to handle urgent situations and offer or request help clearly and effectively.
Whether you’re learning ASL for personal, academic, or professional reasons, this lesson equips you with life-saving vocabulary and communication strategies.
🎯 Learning Goals for ASL Basics 6
- Use facial expressions and grammar to ask yes/no questions in ASL
- Learn emergency signs related to health, danger, and evacuation
- Construct sentences offering or asking for help
- Use vocabulary to respond appropriately to urgent scenarios
- Apply culturally responsive and context-appropriate language in emergencies
📹 ASL Basics 6 Video Summary
In this video, you’ll learn how to:
- Ask: “DO YOU NEED HELP?” using proper yes/no grammar
- Sign emergency terms like DOCTOR, FIRE, POLICE, HOSPITAL
- Respond to questions such as: “ARE YOU OKAY?”
- Express requests: “CALL 911,” “CALL AMBULANCE”
- Sign phrases like: “SIRENS ARE BLARING,” “FIRE ALARM IS SOUNDING,” and “WE NEED TO EVACUATE”
This module includes realistic phrases that can be used in conversations involving safety, health emergencies, and alert systems.
🧠 Vocabulary Breakdown
Emergency & Health Signs
- HELP – closed fist on open palm, moved upward
- HELP ME – same sign toward yourself
- DOCTOR – tapping dominant hand on wrist (like checking pulse)
- FIRE – fingers wiggling upward in front of the body
- FIRE DEPARTMENT – FIRE + “D” taps shoulder
- POLICE – tapping badge area with index and thumb
- AMBULANCE – flashing lights motion beside head
- SIRENS – index fingers circling near ears
- FIRE ALARM – both hands mimicking flashing alert
- EMERGENCY – “E” hands shaken rapidly
- DANGER – claw hands clashing near each other
Locations & Actions
- HOSPITAL – “H” hand makes a cross on upper arm
- EVACUATE – pulling motion away from body
- CALL – mimicking holding and using a phone
- CALL 911 – CALL + fingerspell 9-1-1
Yes/No Questions Structure
- Use raised eyebrows
- Slight forward body lean
- Hold the last sign briefly
Example:
- YOU NEED HELP YOU? – eyebrows raised
- YES, CALL DOCTOR or NO, I FINE
🧩 ASL Grammar: Yes/No Questions
In ASL, yes/no questions require specific non-manual markers:
- Eyebrows up
- Slight lean forward
- Hold the final sign (e.g., YOU?)
Responses:
- YES, I NEED HELP
- NO, I FINE
- Add clarifiers: YES, CALL POLICE or NO, DON’T CALL 911
✋ Cultural Context: Safety and Access
Deaf individuals rely on visual cues in emergencies. Understanding common signs for evacuation, sirens, and medical needs is vital.
Respectful and informed communication during emergencies includes:
- Using signs clearly and calmly
- Not assuming someone understands without confirmation
- Prioritizing visual access (e.g., pointing to exits, showing alert devices)
Many Deaf individuals also rely on vibrating alarms, flashing lights, and apps for emergency notifications.
🔁 Practice Activities
Practice 1: Yes/No Emergency Questions
Sign and respond:
- YOU OKAY YOU?
- DO YOU NEED HELP?
- SHOULD I CALL AMBULANCE?
Use proper NMS throughout.
Practice 2: Emergency Scenarios
Create ASL phrases based on these prompts:
- You smell smoke and hear a fire alarm: “FIRE ALARM SOUNDING. WE NEED EVACUATE.”
- Someone falls: “YOU OKAY? DO YOU NEED DOCTOR?”
- You hear sirens: “SIRENS BLARING OUTSIDE.”
Practice 3: Response Drill
Watch videos or practice in front of a mirror:
- YES, I NEED HELP
- NO, I FINE
- YES, CALL 911
- NO, DON’T CALL POLICE
Practice 4: Situational Roleplay
Act out situations such as:
- Finding someone unconscious
- Noticing fire in a building
- Comforting someone with minor injury
💡 Tips for ASL Learners
- Don’t forget your face—NMS tells others whether you’re asking a question or stating information
- Repetition builds fluency. Practice these phrases daily.
- Practice in real-world environments: pretend your alarm goes off and sign what’s happening
- Learn to fingerspell 9-1-1 quickly and clearly
🌍 Extended Learning: Real-World Preparation
Use these signs when:
- Participating in safety drills
- Assisting someone in distress
- Describing emergency situations to others
Work in fields like healthcare, education, or public safety? Mastering these signs is a must for communication access and inclusivity.
Try:
- Signing along with emergency drill scripts
- Practicing with Deaf friends or teachers on mock emergencies
📘 Vocabulary Drill
Drill the following daily:
- HELP / HELP ME
- FIRE / FIRE ALARM / POLICE
- CALL / CALL 911 / AMBULANCE
- EVACUATE / EMERGENCY / SIRENS
- YOU OKAY? / DO YOU NEED HELP?
Combine into full sentences:
- SIRENS BLARING, I NEED GO HOSPITAL
- FIRE ALARM SOUNDING, WE NEED EVACUATE
- YES, PLEASE CALL 911
📖 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What’s the difference between CALL and CALL 911?
A: CALL is a general sign; CALL 911 includes the numbers fingerspelled after.
Q: Is it okay to ask “ARE YOU OKAY?” in ASL?
A: Yes, it’s a common yes/no structure. Use proper facial grammar.
Q: How do I express urgency?
A: Use NMS (urgent expression), repeated motion, and strong body language. E.g., EMERGENCY repeated with intensity.
📣 Next Steps: Apply and Reflect
After completing ASL Basics 6:
- Record a video signing an emergency question and response (e.g., “DO YOU NEED HELP?” / “YES, I NEED DOCTOR”)
- Watch peers and roleplay responses
- Post a practice scenario in the forum and ask classmates to respond
Then move on to:
Every sign you learn prepares you to support access, community safety, and connection. Keep going—you’re building skills that truly matter!
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