Shark attacks are infrequent but can result in serious injury or death. Certain risk factors may affect the chances of an attack.
Risk Enhancing Behavior |
Action to Reduce Risk |
swimming alone |
swimming in a group |
swimming with a bleeding wound or when menstruating |
avoiding swimming until bleeding has resolved |
wearing bright colored clothing or jewelry |
wearing dark colors without ornament |
swimming in an area with sport or commercial fishermen |
avoid swimming in an area where chum is present or fish predation is in evidence |
swimming at night or at twilight (you are unable to see an approaching shark that can detect you) |
swim during the day |
swimming in murky waters |
swim in clear water |
swimming between sandbars or near a steep dropoff |
avoid these areas when possible, and use extra caution when in these zones |
splashing water or making sudden movements |
swim slowly |
using a surf board, with hands or feet dangling in the water |
avoid using a surf board in shark-infested waters |
harassing a shark |
treating with respect |
Behavior of a shark associated with an impending attack:
(1) swimming with exaggerated motions or change in behavior
(2) pectoral fins (located anteroinferior) directed down rather than flared out laterally
(3) swimming in circles of decreasing radius about the intended target
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care