Five Tips For Avoiding Shark Attacks This Summer
Five Tips For Avoiding Shark Attacks This Summer
When the sun starts burning hot during the days of summer and millions of people start to hop into the cool oceanic waters, the term shark attack is bound to come up. The majority of the time it comes up as a fear, not because of any actual attack. Shark attacks are exceedingly rare, actually. Sharks don’t generally see us as food sources and if they do attack us, it is usually an accident. Still, there are attacks every season and some of them end up being fatal. Fortunately there are some easy to follow tips that can lower your odds considerably of becoming a victim of a shark. Here are five of the more important ones:
Never swim late evening or early morning
Going into the water during this time is akin to ringing the dinner bell. Sharks feed during this time so they will be actively looking for anything in the water that will fill their bellies. Why take your swim when they are looking to eat something, right?
If you are bleeding…at all…stay on shore
This includes menstruation and small cuts. Sharks are famous for their incredible sense of smell and the tiniest amount of blood can draw them closer. If you are bleeding or have open wounds of any kind it is not worth the swim to risk it. Stay on shore where you are safe from this top level predator.
Avoid swimming near schools of fish or diving birds
This will often signal sharks simply because they tend to go where the fish are. Sharks are constantly looking for food and you could end up being mistaken for a shiny fish in the water. If you see large numbers of fish or birds feeding, there is a decent chance that a shark could be in the area.
Stay out of the bays and sand bars
This is also true of the various river outlets and channels. The reason for this is because sharks are smart. They go anywhere that food is herded into a smaller area. Think about it. If you have to chase a small fish across a huge ocean or you can corner them in a tiny bay, which would you choose? Sand bars are similar because they provide a drop off in which bait fish hang out. Sharks use the sandbar to cut off one side as it were. More sharks in the area equals more risk of shark bite.
Never swim alone and try to stay close to others
The more people around you, the better your odds are of not being singled out. Sharks are smart predators and will seek out the lost, wounded and alone. If they see you floating by yourself, they may see you as weak or otherwise available.
When it comes to sharks, it is not very hard to avoid getting attacked. The vast majority of shark bites happen because someone messes with a shark or does something stupid. Most sharks are not going to mess with us. That said, following these five simple rules will lower your chances even further of being attacked.
If you’re looking for some more survival tips, check out this ultimate survival guide! Keep yourself save too, and get ready an emergency plan for your family!
