[Both] Hey, Dylan and Allie here!
[Allie] Summer’s arrived in the Northern Hemisphere,
(okay, not officially, but it will in one week) and we thought that it’d be
great to share some of our tips on how to survive a shark attack.
[Dylan] We want you to enjoy the ocean over the summer
and know you’re safe and secure with some of these tips. Of course, shark
attacks are extremely rare. You’re more likely to run afoul of Mayor Aldridge
than get killed by a shark attack.
[Allie] Or killed by a coconut or a lightning strike.
[Dylan] Right. And as I’m sure you’ve heard; we kill a
lot more sharks than sharks will ever kill of us. Humans kill millions of
sharks per year, while sharks kill an average of 6 people per year worldwide.
[Allie] While both Dylan and I have a great
appreciation of sharks, we do understand the fear they can instill in people.
As someone who’s had several shark encounters myself, both positive and near
shark attacks, I understand how someone facing a threatening shark feels.
[Dylan] So Allie thought it’d be a good idea to share
some of the techniques she and others have used to prevent and survive shark
attacks.
[Both] So without further comment, here’s our guide:
How
to Survive a Shark Attack
By:
Dylan and Allie
How
to Avoid Being Attacked
Sharks, like many wild animals, prefer to stay away
from negative encounters with humans. There are many warning signs a shark will
give off before attacking that if you pay attention, can alert you to a pending
serious situation. One such warming is the posture of a shark. If a shark
begins to arch its back, it’s annoyed and stressed out. This is a sign that you
need to back away and give it space. Another is the behavior of a shark, if it
circles you, it can mean one of two things. Either the shark is just curious
about you, or it intends to attack and is looking for a vulnerable position where
it can approach. The best way to avoid this is to keep your eye on the shark
and rotate in the water to keep your gaze focused on it to where its never
behind or to the side of you. If you are with someone else, stay back to back
to them so that you both are protected and one of you always has a visual on
the shark. Make yourself look as big and menacing as possible. If you swim away
in a hurry or act scared, the shark will assume you are a prey item. Keeping
calm is key to maintaining control of the situation. As you monitor the shark's
behavior, stay still and calm, but if the shark begins to act aggressively,
slowly make your way back to the boat or shore. If you are too far away from
safety, but have anything in your hands like a pole, camera, or spear gun,
place it in-between you and the shark and use it to redirect the shark away
from you if it gets too close. It’s important to gently redirect it, not attack
offensively, which a shark could take as a provocation to attack you. Some
sharks have been known to dislike the sudden appearance of bubbles in the
water. If near the surface, you can slap your arm down into the water to create
a sudden column of bubbles that can deter an incoming shark.
For those of you who don’t swim in the open ocean,
there are ways to avoid being attacked in inshore waters as well. First and
foremost, if you are bleeding from anywhere on your body, do not enter the
water. It doesn’t matter how small the amount of blood is, sharks can smell it
within a one-mile radius. If you start bleeding while you’re in the water,
immediately get out. As tempting as the water is to enjoy, it isn’t worth
risking your life or those of others around you. If you do see a shark in the
water, do not provoke it by touching it or attacking it yourself.
In general, whether you find yourself on the beach in
shallow water or swimming in the open ocean, never swim alone. Sharks (and
predators in general) go for the loner. If you are with others, sharks are much
less likely to attack. Also, be careful about what you wear for swimwear.
Anything with high contrast, bright colors like yellow, or metallic silver
(swimsuit or jewelry) will attract sharks. This is because it will make you
appear more like a fish. If you don’t want to be prey, don’t act like it. That
includes excessive splashing. When you splash around, you mimic the death
throes of a dying fish. This will attract sharks because it’s like a dinner
bell ringing. If you have a dog or other pet that likes the water, keep them
out of the ocean as well. Their swimming style creates a lot of unnecessary
splashing.
The time in which you swim is also paramount. At
night, many shark species are more active, and visibility is little to none for
humans, both of which makes it extremely dangerous for us. Dusk and twilight
are also not good times to swim because sharks are actively looking for food,
and once again, the water clarity may not be conducive for you seeing sharks
approaching.
Just like time is important, so is water quality and
location. Humans can’t see well in murky water, but shark senses give them a
clear view of what is in the water. They can easily ambush prey and that
includes accidental attacks on humans. Stay away from the mouths of rivers as
they tend to be more brackish and can have more pollution or sewage in them.
Anywhere where someone is fishing is a bad place to swim. Combine all the other
issues we’ve already warned you about (like excessive splashing, blood, and
coloration) and you have the perfect situation for a shark invitation to
dinner. Harbors aren’t a good place to swim because of murky water and boats that
could run you over, (let’s be reasonable here!).
Pay attention to other animals around you. If you see
typical prey items of sharks like seals, fish, or sea turtles abruptly leave
the area, chances are, a shark may be present. However, do not think that the
presence of a seal, fish, or dolphins mean a shark isn’t nearby or in the
water. Just like lions and their prey species coexist in the Serengeti, sharks
and their prey coexist in the ocean. The presence of one does not mean the
absence of the other.
How
To Survive An Attack
If all else fails and you find yourself in the jaws of
a shark who refuses to let go, fight back. Play dead and you soon will be.
Sharks don’t fall for the playing dead act. For them, it’s an invitation to
keep eating. Fight back by pulling or punching the gills of the shark. For
sharks, it’s the only way they can breathe and if you attack them there, they
will most likely let go. If the gills are out of reach, but the eyes are not,
jab them in the eye. No creature likes having their eyes attacked, (think of
how bad it hurts when you accidentally jab yourself in the eye). Although some
scientists have suggested punching the shark in the nose, we suggest against
it. It is true that shark snouts are sensitive due to the ampullae of Lorenzini
receptors they have there. But the truth is that humans are slow underwater
compared to a shark and the snout of the shark is alarmingly close to their
jaws. There was even a swimmer in Brazil who lost his hands because he tried
punching the shark in the snout and the shark bit off his hands. We think the
safest bet is to keep your body away from the shark’s razor-sharp teeth.
Whatever you do, don’t stop fighting until you’re free
from the shark’s jaws. Once free, get out of the water as soon as you can. If
you’re far from shore, keep an eye out for any sharks as you swim back to
safety. If near others, cry out for help. Whether alone or not, keep pressure
on the wound as best as possible or create a tourniquet above the wound if it’s
large. Get emergency medical attention as soon as you’re out of the water to
help control the bleeding until you can get to the hospital. Even if you think
the bite wasn’t too bad, a shark’s mouth is full of all kinds of bacteria and
you don’t want to get gangrene, so receiving medical attention is necessary.
Of course, the only 100% sure way to ensure you’ll
never be attacked by a shark is to never enter any body of water outside of a
swimming pool. But what fun would that be? You’d miss out on the wonder and
beauty of the ocean. So just remember our tips, and you’ll have a fun and safe
summer.
Author’s Note: While Dylan and Allie have
had their fair share of shark encounters, neither are experts in the field of
shark science. If you want to read a few contemporary resources on how to avoid and
survive a shark attack, click any of the links below:
