In light of the recent shark attacks off of the North Carolina coast, I feel that this is about to sprout into a major issue. Before I begin, I'm asking you to remain optimistic. Whether you are a shark enthusiast or have a shark-phobia, it's good to be aware of the facts and precautions you can take when you're in these amazing beasts' territory.
Photo via Wylder James
Discovery Channel has done a fantastic job showcasing these animals for what they are – wild animals. Just as we don't want a rhinoceros charging at us in a safari or a bear barreling toward us through the wilderness, we do not want to be the object of a shark's eye. But here's the thing – WE AREN'T.
1. 100% of shark attacks on humans are unintentional. Imagine having eyes on the sides of your head and no arms to feel whatever it is around you. Sharks are curious creatures, and the only way that they can fully investigate objects around them is to use their mouths. Yes, this consequently can lead to shark attacks.
2. You are in their territory when you swim in the ocean. If you have a new guest come to your house, you want to say hi and see what they're about. Sharks are similar (not that they aren't thinking that, but they are just curious creatures!) I'll list some precautions to take to avoid being a curious specimen later on.
3. Sharks unintentionally attack and kill about 10 humans per year worldwide, whereas humans kill 20 to 30 million sharks a year intentionally. Cows are more likely to kill humans, I'm not even kidding. Cows and dogs. Yes, that is true.
Photo via audiencewatch
4. Shark Week has some interesting documentaries. Want to learn the secrets behind the making of the movie "Jaws"? They interview the famous Steven Spielberg himself to learn more about it (spoiler: they barely ever used the shark they built except in the final scenes! They used men dressed as sharks – it's comical but achieves the terrifying moments quite well.) They also have first hand accounts of surviving victims that explain their experience and nearly every one of the victims explains that they have no ill will toward the beasts that attacked them. Documentaries are informative and can be comforting.
Photo via WeKnowMemes
5. You learn the history of shark attacks. When the USS Indianapolis sank in shark-infested waters, things got messy. Injured men were littered throughout the open water and it resulted in a massive shark attack parade. It's the event that Quint actually described in his monologue in "Jaws." They also cover the stories of the attacks along the New Jersey coast in 1916 that are rumored to have been inspiration for "Jaws."
6. Research professionals explain things that you, otherwise, wouldn't know. Just like any informative show, really. They explain precautions that you can take, which include the following:
- Limit your ocean activities to midday. Do not swim in the early morning or in the evening, as those are prime shark feeding times. My own personal rule is to get out of the water for the day at 4 p.m. (The attacks in NC took place after 4 p.m.)
- Stay in groups. A study (done during one of the previous shark weeks) conducted by researchers tested the safety of a group of three dummies floating in open water versus a single dummy floating in open water. The single dummy was the one who, had it been a human, would have suffered. Stay in groups and you'll be more intimidating and much much less of a target.
Photo via How Stuff Works
- Be aware of what you look like. Don't wear bright clothing in the water and don't wear sparkly jewelry or swimsuits. Sharks detect bright colors and the sparkling colors can mimic fish scales, making you appear as prey. Further, Great White sharks love seals and turtles (sad, but true). If you float on a boogie board with your arms and legs out, imagine what you look like from below (hint: you look like either a turtle or a seal). Don't get caught mimicking the Great Whites' favorite prey. When I boogie board I float next to the board, not on top of it.
- If you find yourself in close company with a shark, assume the fetal position. Kind of an assumed response, but when one of the men on the USS Indianapolis realized he was surrounded by sharks, but he wasn't injured, he curled up into a ball and, as a result, sharks were entirely uninterested in him. He survived without a single injury, whether from the shipwreck or the sharks.
Photo via IPoll Blog
- Do not get into the ocean if you are bleeding. Sharks have incredible senses when it comes to blood in their territory. It sets off an alarm in their heads that food is near and they need to access it if it's already injured and bleeding. More so, if you start bleeding for whatever reason while you're in the water, get out immediately and notify lifeguards or the people around you. You could be a hero.
- A last reaction (not precaution) when in a shark attack is to be the shark's predator. The two major predators for sharks (yes, these menacing guys are prey, too) are humans and killer whales. An attack victim described his response when getting attacked and actually grabbed the shark's tail. Though it's not always possible, grabbing a shark's tail is the way that killer whales attack and eat sharks. When this victim grabbed it's tail, the shark freaked out and swam away in a hurry. Again, it's pretty difficult to achieve (this guy was ripped) but when you're being attacked and your life is in danger, it's safe to say you'd try anything to survive. Poking eyes and punching the nose is an option, but you have to keep in mind that water slows down the velocity of your blows.
Sharks are wild animals, and should be treated as such. They don't intentionally attack humans, and humans are not listed as a shark's natural prey. Take the above precautions to avoid being that statistic.
These creatures don't know any better when it comes to human attacks – they only know survival, which means finding food. Being aware of precautions and facts is always helpful.
A lot of the information found above was via Discovery.com if you want to look into "Shark Week" further!
