Sar Swimmer Hand Signals

Front 1

I am all right

Back 1

Raised arm, open hand, fingers extended

Front 2

Ready for pickup

Back 2

Raised arm, thumb up

Front 3

In trouble, need assistance

Back 3

Vigorous waving of one arm

Front 4

Deploy raft

Back 4

Clenched fists, arms crossed overhead

Front 5

Deploy radio

Back 5

Hand held to ear

Front 6

Deploy rescue hand tool

Back 6

Clenched fist, arm pumping motion

Front 7

Deploy rescue litter

Back 7

One arm raised with open palm, fingers extended, other arm raised over the swimmer’s head and touching the first arm at the elbow

Front 8

Deploy rescue basket/net

Back 8

Both arms raised, palms open, fingers extended, at a 45 degrees angle to the side of the swimmer’s head

Front 9

Raise cable/ready to be hoisted

Back 9

Raised arm, thumb up

Front 10

Stop hoisting

Back 10

Raised arm, clenched fist

Front 11

Lower cable

Back 11

Raised arm, thumb downward

Front 12

Heave around, haul back to ship

Back 12

Raised arm, thumb up, trail line in hand

Front 13

Deploy trail line

Back 13

One arm raised with open palm fingers extended, while moving the opposite hand laterally from side to side behind open palm

Front 14

Deploy personal flotation device

Back 14

Either palm down on crown of head

Front 15

Five feet above deck

Back 15

One arm extended out to side, fingers extended, palm down, extend arm in and out once

Front 16

10’ above deck

Back 16

Both arms extended out to sides, fingers extended, palms down, extended arms in and out once

Front 17

20’ above deck

Back 17

Both arms extended out to sides, fingers extended, palms down, extend arms in and out twice in rapid succession

Front 18

Request assistance of additional rescue swimmer

Back 18

Either arm out, palm down, rotating in circular motion

Front 19

Request rescue boat assistance

Back 19

Both arms raised over head, palms together

Front 20

Failed hoist

Back 20

Clenched fist over clenched fist followed by a thumbs-down by hoist operator

Front 21

Deploy rescue seat

Back 21

Both arms outstretched, palms up

Front 22

Deploy oxygen/suction unit

Back 22

One palm cupped over mouth and nose, clenched fist in front

Front 23

Deploy medical kit

Back 23

Both arms raised, palms overlapping and touching top of head

Front 24

Off the deck, easy up

Back 24

Arms out, palms up, move in upward motion to top of head

Front 25

Clear of all terrain, clear for direction of flight

Back 25

Arm/fingers extended, move in circle motion above head, followed by direction of flight

Front 26

Approaching deck for termination of short haul

Back 26

Repeated motion of arms extended out, palms down and moving in downward motion repeatedly to seat of pants