The hand signal with the responder placing their hands across the throat indicates:

• A. Vision problem
• B. They are okay
• C. Hazardous atmosphere
• D. Air problems

Answer: (D)

This signal is used to indicate a problem with breathing air. In hazardous materials operations, responders rely on simple hand gestures to communicate when radios aren’t practical or audio cues are overwhelmed. When someone places their hands across the throat, it specifically flags an issue with the air supply or breathing apparatus—such as low air, a regulator problem, or concerns about air quality. Seeing this cue means teammates should pause work, check the air status and equipment, perform buddy checks, and be prepared to exit the area if needed. It isn’t about vision problems, which would involve eye-related cues; it isn’t the positive or “all clear” signal, which would be given differently; and it isn’t a general hazardous atmosphere indication, which would be conveyed by other signals.