Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>
\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Instructions Step 1: Stay calm Try to stay calm. Do not cut off a shark's path to the ocean. Join us on a 12-month journey to see them all. This article has been viewed 1,183,472 times. Zero to 60: King of the … But David did make it, and soon he learned that surviving the shark wasn’t the hardest part—it was what … As the shark swims around you, keep your head on a swivel and try to maintain eye contact. We could say that by staying away from active fishing grounds, river mouths, and … If a shark is clearly in attack mode, you need to make yourself as big as possible in the water, according to Peirce: "The bigger you are in the water, the more respect you'll get.". Failing that, become the toughest kid on the block by standing up to the fierce creature with a signature move known to throw sharks off kilter. David was in the ocean in Hawaii when the unthinkable happened—a shark attacked him and bit off his leg. Avoid splashing, kicking, or thrashing about in panic, as this may encourage the shark to attack. As long as you keep fighting, there is a good chance the shark will eventually give up and search for easier prey. ", A good shot to the gills can also do the job: "The gills are very sensitive -- giving a shark a whack in the gills isn't a bad idea.". Remember not to make any sudden movements. If you have been bitten and if you are bleeding after the bite, try and keep that area out of the water. If you find yourself in an aggressive encounter, give it hell: punch, kick and poke at sensitive spots -- but be careful where you aim. If you have nothing around you, use your own body. To create this article, 234 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. If you have a fishing spear, oar, or another hard object, don't hesitate to use it. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. 1 /1 How to survive a shark attack. Sometimes they swim right up and charge, sometimes they circle for a while before lunging, and sometimes they sneak up from behind for a surprise attack. If you stay calm, the shark may be uninterested. "There's all this talk about punching a shark in the nose. Aim for the shark's eyes, gills, or snout. ! There's a perfect beach for every week of the year. "Keep your back to something like a coral reef. Often a shark will mistake you for prey, leaving you with injuries after realising his mistake. Kashmira Gander @kashmiragander. The bad news is shark attacks are steadily on the rise. If you are attacked while in a group, form a circle and defend yourselves from the circle. "Whether they're commercial or recreational fishermen, they're often discarding material -- fish they don't want, fish parts, gutting fish. If shark fighting is your forte you might want to visit one of these five locations (listed in order of likelihood for a shark attack) North America; Australia; Brazil; Though nose and gills are sensitive, they are most protective of their eyes. "This is a moving object in the water and you're not staying still either, so what you don't want to do is end up effectively punching at the mouth or anywhere near it. This goes back to the first point: displacing the least amount of water possible -- ie no thrashing and splashing around -- gradually swim backwards away from the shark towards shore. Then claw, kick, elbow, and generally endeavour to injure the eyes and gills. The shark will simply attempt to swallow its catch. "If you're a diver with an underwater camera, use it, if you're a snorkeler, rip off your snorkel and use it to poke the shark," Peirce says. Sharks live in water because it's the only way they can live; humans only go in there for fun. Stay out of shark infested waters. Scientists do not believe sharks attack humans to eat us; rather, they bite into our flesh because they are curious to find out what kind of animal we are; kind of like how dogs like to sniff new friends, only a lot more deadly. Even just a single bite by a large white shark like this can cause death by blood loss. After Jaws was released in 1979, white sharks (what people in the film referred to as great whites) took the stage as the most feared sharks, and for good reason. Gouging the eyes, hitting the gills, or shoving things in the mouth may help though, as it made the shark stop or leave about 2/3 of the time. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Try instead to get away from the shark - but don't ever lose sight of the creature during an attack. Remember that humans kill approximately 100 million sharks a year, while unprovoked shark attacks killed just five people in 2017. “I don’t think you’re gonna make it,” a medic told the 25-year-old on the helicopter ride to the hospital. To learn more about how to get in a defensive position to prepare for the attack, keep reading! With the climate getting warmer, sharks are starting to head farther north due to warmer waters. Do you get back in the water if you're not attacked, after a shark attack has happened? On second thoughts, you’d probably be safer swimming with the sharks. If you do not have a weapon, improvise. The best way to defend yourself against a shark is to punch its nose. Another suggestion is to attack its eyes or gills because these are the most painful spots for a shark. Another suggestion is to attack its eyes or gills because these are the most painful spots for a shark. So you're being circled by a shark. How would it help to stay still? You need adequate oxygen to effectively defend against an attack in order to make a quick getaway and retreat to safety. What Could You Do To Survive A Shark Attack? The shark moves much faster than you. Survive a Shark Attack. Zero to 60: The Journey Not the Destination. Move slowly toward the shore or a boat; choose whichever is closest. "If you're turning around and facing it the whole time while it circles you, it's not going to be half as comfortable as if it's able to sneak up from behind. Always remember: Sharks can smell blood and urine for a distance of several miles. The unfortunate reality of a shark attack is that if one does decide you … If you go swimming and splashing away, you're almost inviting the shark to come give you an exploratory or an attack bite.". By Malia Wollan. When it comes to shark attacks and shark incidents, the news out there is grim right now. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. It attracts sharks. The shark won't notice the difference. Sharks can smell and taste even the … Fight with your fists, elbows, knees, and feet. You're unlikely to run into the kind of shark that attacks humans unprovoked -- bull sharks, tiger sharks, and. Shark scales are very rough and can cut flesh quite easily. If … Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,183,472 times. How to. If a shark attacks you, fight back by hitting the shark as hard as you can in the eyes, gills, or on the end of its snout. ", "If fisherman are catching fish or struggling with fish in the water, that's one of the prime attractors for a shark," he says. How to Survive a Shark Attack. If a boat is nearby, call out calmly, but loudly, for them to come to you. Unfortunately, if a shark becomes interested in you, it will be extremely tough to escape. Surviving the attack. If there is a shark swimming calmly nearby, do not attempt to attack; more often than not, they mean you no harm. ... To survive a cheetah attack, wave your hands in the air to make yourself look as big as possible, and yell at the cheetah in order to scare it off. Latch onto the muzzle of the shark with any free limbs to avoid being thrashed. So no, until the relevant authorities declare that it is safe, you do not get back in the water, even if you weren't attacked. When sharks attack, get out of the water, fast! Sharks rarely attack, but when they do, severe and sometimes fatal injuries commonly result. Of course, the best way to not get hurt by sharks is to avoid a shark attack in the first place. You are safer near cover and underwater with good sight then you are going up to the surface and losing sight of the creature. If you spot a shark and it hasn’t spotted you, you can still swim away quickly and quietly without splashing water and get to safety. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/shark-attack-how-to-survive/index.html, http://traveltips.usatoday.com/survive-shark-attack-2474.html, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-not-to-do-shark_n_5081316, http://www.outsideonline.com/blog/outdoor-adventure/surviving-a-great-white-shark-attack.html, https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/reduce-risk/divers/, https://www.forbes.com/sites/alliewilkinson/2015/09/06/how-to-fight-back-if-a-shark-attacks/#3a1be9256061, https://usa.oceana.org/tips-avoiding-shark-attacks, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2005/07/shark-attack-tips/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. For one thing, sharks are the apex predators of the oceans - they help keep other marine life in healthy balance and regulate the oceans. Sure, we could talk about the statistically infinitesimal chance that you’re going to get attacked by a shark (about 1 in 11.5 million), and that the vast majority of shark attacks are non-fatal, and that sharks don’t actually want to eat people, they just get confused sometimes. If going for a swim in the ocean, bring others along as you are always safer in a group, and bring a diving knife. There are over 400 species of shark, and around a dozen are considered highly dangerous to humans - chiefly the great white, tiger shark and bull shark. Highlighted by the fatal attack at Snapper in early September on a 46-year-old male surfer, there have been 51 shark attacks so far this year. Once you regain your composure, here’s what else Peirce says you can do: Stay facing the shark and maintain eye contact. Across the entire world, there have been over 2,500 unprovoked shark attacks documented, and although they are often hit-and-run random attacks, it is important to learn what to do in case you ever find yourself in this situation. If you are free swimming (no wet-suit or gloves) do not attempt to grab a shark fin or back, (grey areas) these spots can cut you or rub your skin off, causing you to bleed and most likely triggering a sharks blood lust. If you have a fishing spear, oar, or another hard object, don't hesitate to use it. This will only make them mistake you for free prey. If a very large predator, say a great white shark or grizzly bear, attacks you in full predatory mode, then it makes no difference what you do. Sharks usually hunt at drop-offs or near banks. This isn't a bear, it's a shark. "You must try and keep the animal in sight and very slowly and gently try and swim backwards and get into shallow water. Adulting 101: The credit building course from wikiHow. Share Link. Body language is more important to a shark. SURVIVE. "A lot of shark attacks are cases of mistaken identity," Peirce says, "due to reduced visibility and identification ability on the behalf of the shark.". If you have a spear gun or pole, use it! Remember to breathe as you fight. Aim for the head, specifically the eyes or the gills. However, it’s best to have it at the back of your mind that an attack could happen. What is their greatest weak point: eyes, nose, or gills? HOW TO SURVIVE A SHARK ATTACK. How to survive a shark attack: What to do if you encounter the creature, and how likely it is in the first place. Be aware of your surroundings. Never play dead around a shark. Shark Attack: Survival Guide. Kick and punch outwards from the circle. ", This is where it gets complicated. Warmer waters also brings more people to the beach and swimming in the ocean is the main attraction. They're effectively putting chum in the water and bringing around sharks.". After a shark attack, then it's not safe, as there is likely a decent food source that attracted that shark, and probably more sharks, to the area. If we want to explore something we pick it up and we touch it, we feel it, we put it to our nose. Sharks still hunt during the day. They will attack and your chances of survival will be limited. Also, doing this prevents the bitten area from being stuck even more in the shark's mouth, as shark teeth are pointed inward to lock in their prey.. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Shark attack stats. If you are bleeding, avoid going in the water. This means that you should also avoid areas with fishing boats, as discarded fish fluids (blood, guts, etc) will attract them to the area. Do not play dead as an aggressive shark will go for you. If the cheetah pounces on … This is when sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage. Do not take your eyes off the shark. In other words: they won't care less. "An awful lot of attacks occur in river mouths, where there is silt and other material in suspension in the river -- people washing their clothes, people washing themselves," says Peirce, who has spent time in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, where Fanning's encounter occurred Sunday. If the shark retreats, move slowly and calmly towards the nearest safe area, but do not make any sudden movements and do not turn your back on the shark as you are swimming. Which means the sharks are still there. What if I scream at the shark? He, But while the encounter left Fanning understandably rattled, there's no need to feel a similar panic about your upcoming beach vacation: the odds of being attacked by a shark are. In fact, this is the normal way they eat. What happens if I lose sight of the shark? "So when you've hooked a fish before you've landed it on the boat, the whole time it's struggling in the water it's likely to be emitting fluids, leaking blood and acids ... all the signals that would attract a shark. What's behind increase in shark attacks off the Carolinas. Be as hostile and vicious as possible. So, if you do spend time in the ocean, it may be helpful for you to know how to survive a shark attack. Floating as if you were dead in the water is not a good idea either - the shark may still do a "trial bite" to determine whether or not you're food. You're protected from behind, for example, and that enables you to keep the shark in sight in front of you and maybe swim to the top of the reef slowly to where your boat is.". If so, turn it into a weapon. The International Shark Attack File gives the following advice: Avoid being in the water from sunset to sunrise. X. A shark fin is heading straight for you. You can fight, scream, beg, play dead. Doing the above may help to a degree, but Peirce says the likelihood of escaping an attack from a big shark without injury is slim. It will feel threatened and may go on the offence. First things first: Despite what happened to, Fanning, a world champion surfer, had a run-in with one on live TV during a surfing competition in South Africa. They won't be able to breathe properly if you damage them there. Advertisement. Here are a few things to do, and not do, if a shark attacks you or is about to attack you. Try to wear dark clothes if you are going under water. Blood indicates the presence of something to eat and may attract sharks, says Peirce, "but what's often not realized is that urine has the exact same effect. 1) DO NOT PLAY DEAD! The combination of these two … Sharks have surprisingly rough and sharp skin, unlike the smooth scales of other fish, so be aware of this. A shark's gills are the equivalent to a humans lungs. Again, you've got to be careful -- large sharks can attack in very shallow depths.". SHARK ATTACK SURVIVAL TIPS. % of people told us that this article helped them. Why don't we just get rid of all sharks so that we don't have to worry about attacks? Swimming early in the morning or late at night can be lovely, but it's also the time when a shark attack is most likely. A shark might take a bite and then decide that they … "If I didn't want to be seen by a great white shark as a competitor -- and if it wasn't showing massive interest in me -- I would actually curl up so he shows even less interest in me.". If you can, use a sharp or heavy object to hit the shark, such as a spear, rock, or even a camera, but if not, you can use your fists, elbows, knees, or feet. Absolutely. Look for a reef or rock on the bottom of the ocean. If you truly want to survive a shark attack, instead of taking an adventure to an Australian beach you might be better off exploring the streets of Dudley. If you can put your back to something, like a coral reef, do so. Even if it is unlikely it will occur, you should always be alert in case it happens. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. [1] X Research source Sharks have several different attack methods. This article has been viewed 1,183,472 times. Last Updated: August 23, 2020 If the shark thinks I am dead, it will attack anyway, won't it? Sharks have an extraordinary sense of smell and can detect a drop of blood in several hundred million parts of water, according to Peirce. Swim around and repeat. "I've had a lot of sharks come at me, and it's (been) enough to use a shark billy -- a small metal rod between two and three feet long -- and I've just given them a little nudge on their nose.". ... you'll both have a better chance to survive if you ascend while pressed together, back to back. Eye contact is neither aggressive nor non-aggressive in sharks. Once free Do not thrash your arms or kick or splash while you swim. But if the shark seems to simply be passing through, Peirce's advice is to roll up into a ball. Step 4: Fight back If the worst happens … We use cookies to make wikiHow great. How to Survive a Shark Attack. In Australia, 6 of them were fatal. If the shark manages to grab your arm as you intend to strike, use your other hand to punch the other side. That said, there are a number of steps you can take to increase your chances of survival during a (highly improbable) attack, according to Richard Peirce, a shark expert and former chairman of the UK-based Shark Trust charity. Although you may get a few small bites from fighting back, these tactics will increase your … Use any inanimate object, such as a. If the shark is waiting for a time to strike, however, try to wait it out. Additionally, it would be cruel to eliminate a whole species simple because they're inconvenient for us. ", It doesn't matter the size of the fishing operation either. Do not wear bright jewelry or watches. Do not turn your back on the shark as you move. "If a shark sees you as a competitor for its food source, that can be one reason it attacks you," he explains. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. It's unlikely to happen but should you come face to face with a great white demon of the deep, you'll want to be prepared. In Australia, 6 of them were fatal. In open water, get back-to-back with another swimmer or diver so that you can see, and defend against, an attack from any direction. "A shark has got no paws or hands, so if it wants to explore something, the only capability it's got to do that is to put it in its mouth," says Peirce. If you don't want to tangle with a shark, don't go where sharks hang out. If the shark grabs you with its mouth. When it comes to shark attacks and shark incidents, the news out there is grim right now. Peirce recommends avoiding estuaries, particularly where there are bull sharks -- which, along with great whites and tiger sharks, are the most likely to attack humans. Staying out of shark habitats is the surest way to avoid getting hurt. Tips for Surviving a Shark Attack. A shark approached surfer Mick Fanning at a tournament in South Africa on Sunday. Of these attacks, 17 were in Australia and 23 were from the USA. References. As the article says, sometimes sharks will swim away for awhile, but they will come back, so you can use that time to try and get to a safe area on land or a boat. Generally, most sharks' reaction times aren't so fast they can see you swinging and open their mouths first, but if they're already coming at you with an open mouth and you can't avoid them, try aiming with the other hand. Stay in a group, and do not wander too far from shore. It's not the best thing that's ever happened to you, but the worst thing you can do right now is panic. Swimming will alert the shark because they have a sensor along their body that detects panicked movement. Always be aware of the shark. Do not go swimming at dawn, dusk or at night because these are the times when sharks feed. Of these attacks, 17 were in Australia and 23 were from the USA. Knowing how to respond can mean the difference between life and death. Instead, choose dark, plain colors. You're unlikely to run into the kind of shark that attacks humans unprovoked -- bull sharks, tiger sharks, and. If you are diving near the shore, you may need to descend to find cover. Although shark attacks are rare, a bite from these powerful sea creatures can be deadly. Back up If possible, move yourself into a position where your back is against a solid structure. Do not be too scared of sharks. Do not swim alone, no matter what the time is. Stay calm. Sharks tend to thrash prey around and to tear chunks out of their prey, so if the person bitten essentially "hugs" the shark (latching onto it), they sharply reduce the risk of having large quantities of skin or limbs altogether ripped off of their body. Cut Off Possible Attack Angles As mentioned, sharks like the “gotcha” approach and will often try to attack you from behind. Featured Videos Related Zero to 60: Blustery Suffering. Sharks... Curl up into a ball if it looks like it’s just passing by. Screaming at the shark will have absolutely no effect, except perhaps annoying and angering the shark. Never get on top of a shark. To learn more about how to get in a defensive position to prepare for the attack, keep reading! Additionally, use pepper spray or a knife to attack the cheetah. Then you've only got one direction to look. Hitting the shark on the snout has helped many people survive. Do not swim away from shark at any situation. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. They mainly hunt seals and other large mammals, so humans floating on the surface of the ocean can easily be mistaken for food. You can also kick it in the chest as it approaches you to throw it backwards. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Unfortunately, there isn’t one simple answer on how to survive a shark attack. With Charles Duhigg How To Listen on Apple Podcasts. To improve your chances of surviving a shark attack, we spoke with George Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and manager of the International Shark Attack File. If you see fishing boats, Peirce says "forget it. "If a white shark is in full attack mode, there's not much you're going to be able to do at that point," he says. Swim in, take a bite while thrashing its head side to side, and swim off to swallow. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/shark-attack-how-to-survive/index.html I like to have a singular focus when defending myself from apex predators. How To Survive a Shark Attack How To! How to survive a shark attack. Less than 10% of the incidents report fighting back. Do not block the shark's path. To divers, if you are getting followed by a shark, you should have a knife on you or a spike. "Don't start splashing around -- you're just going to excite, incite and encourage the shark's interest," says Peirce. "Sharks are ambush predators," Peirce explains. Keep calmly swimming to shore or to anything near you that you could rest on, without being in the water, and then call for help. Peirce also says women who are menstruating should stay on the beach -- and that people who cut themselves while swimming should get out of the water. Do not play dead. Before you jump in the sea, have a look around the horizon -- what do you see? Do not give up. And that’s how you survive a shark attack. • If you're bleeding, including menstruating, stay on the beach. Stay as still as possible while waiting, as long as the shark is not actively attacking you; and get into the boat as quickly as possible, once the boat reaches you. The best thing to do is stay calm and hover in the water. "That's why we often get exploratory bites which don't result in death and sometimes don't even result in serious injury. Remember, it is important to keep the shark in view. We are the ones invading their territory - doing that to any species, or even fellow humans, is always risky. There are over 500 species of sharks. Are you carrying anything with you? And if you're sitting on a surfboard in the water all day, you're peeing all day through your wetsuit.". If you are standing between the shark and the open ocean, move away. Steadily, terrifyingly, the shark is closing in. This will attract the shark, as it will be able to sense your movement. Sharks are flexible and they can turn their head and easily attack. If there’s a seawall or reef near, put your back against it so that you can keep the shark in front of you. If you see fish continuously jumping out of the water, it probably means there is a predator around, which may be a shark. Can a shark strike a specific target more than once? I can’t imagine that nobody fought back in the other cases, so this is another area where the data isn’t definitive. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Will it do anything? If a shark attacks, fight back. What do you do if the shark's mouth opens when you are planning to strike the eyes or gills? Humans, apes, dogs and cats all have paws and hands. If you're a diver and you run into trouble, try to get into a position where the shark can't get behind you, says Peirce. A sharp object is a good way to inflict enough pain to scare away the shark.