Around the world there is a wide variety of emergency symbols that indicate danger, help, and many other things. Luckily, there are a few internationally recognized symbols that mean the same thing almost anywhere you go.
It’s important to understand emergency symbols of all kinds. If you don’t, you might walk right into a disaster. Alternatively, you might now recognize where to get help.
Emergency symbols are particularly helpful because they transcend language. There are some symbols that are universal no matter where you go, and it’s important to know them, at least the most common ones.
Here are some of the more common emergency symbols you should know.
First Aid
The first aid symbol comes with some variation in different places, but it’s basically the same wherever you go. This sign is usually a white cross on a field of green. This can be found on medical facilities, emergency equipment, and first aid kits.
Sometimes you will see the Red Cross symbol, a red cross on a white background. This symbol is more closely associated with the International Red Cross, but generally has the same meaning.
Danger!
Danger is a a concept that has a lot of representations. The most common, though, is a black exclamation mark. Red is also closely associated with danger, so if you see lots of red, important looking signs, you should watch out.
Stop
There are many symbols that mean stop, but the most common one is a circle with a strike through it. It’s commonly red on white, but not always. Sometimes you will also see un upraised hand, palm facing you. This means the same thing
Restrooms
Hey, these can be associated with emergencies, too. These are symbols that truly are almost universal. Almost anywhere you go, restrooms will be labelled with stick figure of some sort representing a man and a woman side by side. the individual restrooms will be marked with either the man or the woman accordingly.
