5 Tips To Help You Stay Safe From Shark Attacks

The odds of being attacked by a shark are slim. Some estimate the odds at 1 in 11.5 million. To help decrease your odds even more, follow these shark safety steps.

SHARK ATTACK SAFETY TIPS

• Don’t enter the water alone. Always swim with a buddy.

• Don’t swim in places where others are fishing. Blood and fish bait can attract sharks.

• Shiny objects, like jewelry, can also attract sharks because they resemble a fish’s shiny scales.

• Avoid areas where sharks have been sighted or are known to congregate.

• If you are in the water and a shark is spotted, return to shore quickly, but keep splashing to a minimum. Splashing can attract sharks because it sounds like injured prey.

The ocean is home to more than 500 shark species, but only a handful tend to attack, like great white, bull and tiger sharks. Most attacks have happened when people are on surfboards or another type of board. It’s believed that sharks mistake the board for its natural prey, such as a seal or sea lion.

In the U.S., Florida has reported the most unprovoked shark attacks, with more than 900. But that’s since the year 1837. Hawaii, California, South Carolina and North Carolina round out the top 5, all of which have reported fewer than 200 each in that same 188-year span.