Encounter a Shark and Survive

(ModernSurvival.org) – Humans like to believe they are at the top of the food chain, but sometimes, that simply isn’t true — especially when we enter another predator’s domain. Sharks have evolved for millions of years to become what many consider to be the ultimate hunters. If you ever come face to teeth with a shark, do you know how to survive?

The experts at How to Survive have provided a helpful video full of tips on how to survive an encounter with a shark:

The best way to survive a shark attack is to avoid the situation altogether. Below are some helpful pointers on how to stay off the menu:

Don’t swim at night. Sharks have excellent night vision and have a tendency to hunt after dark.
Avoid areas known for shark activity. Harbor entrances and deep waters tend to be shark-feeding grounds, so avoid these locations.
If you have a wound, stay out of the water. Sharks can smell blood in the water from miles away, so if you’re injured or sustain an injury while swimming, get out of the water.
Don’t urinate. Just like blood, sharks are attracted to the smell of urine.
If you see a shark, don’t make a lot of movement. You don’t want to spark the animal’s curiosity — they tend to investigate with their teeth.
When in deep water, look down. Many species of sharks like to attack their prey from below.

Unfortunately, even if you take the steps above, there is always the chance that a shark will still attack. If this occurs, the rules for survival change drastically.

Don’t play dead with a shark. Sharks look for easy meals and are known to seek dead animals to eat.
Fight back! Punch and kick the shark in the eyes, gills, and nose. Sharks have very sensitive nerve receptors on their snout called ampullae of Lorenzini, so striking here will cause the animal a great deal of pain. If you have a weapon, use it.
Get away. Once the shark leaves, get out of the water. Sharks attack their target, then leave it to bleed out so they can eat with little risk to themselves.
Seek medical help. If you were bitten or injured in any way, get help quickly.

The odds of ever being attacked by a shark are pretty low, but as a survivalist, it is always better to be prepared just in case. To see more on how to survive an animal attack, check out our article on defending yourself from a moose.

~Here’s to Your Survival!