Shark attacks remain an unlikely danger for humans entering the water. However, there is alway a level of risk.

Lemon Shark

However small the risk is it does not mean that people should disregard the likelihood of an attack by swimming outside the protection of Life Saver patrolled beaches or protected swimming areas. Safety can be enhanced by using common sense as to where you swim and what you do in the water. There is a much higher risk of drowning at the beach (87 average a year) than from being killed by a shark. As more knowledge is acquired about the sharks’ normal behaviours and about the circumstances surrounding attacks, it may be possible to develop an effective repellent (some electric impulse devices are currently commercially available).

The best prevention is common sense related to where you swim and what activities you undertake whilst in the water and awareness of what may invite or provoke an attack.

The following safety points highlight some considerations to help minimise the risk:

• Swim at beaches that are patrolled by Surf Life Savers.
• Do not swim, dive or surf where dangerous sharks are known to congregate.
• Always swim, dive or surf with other people.
• Do not swim a dawn, dusk or at night.
• Do not swim dive or surf in dirty or turbid water.
• Avoid swimming well offshore, near deep channels, at river mouths or along drop-offs to deeper water.
• If schooling fish start to behave erratically or congregate in large numbers, leave the water.
• Do not swim with pets and domestic animals.
• Look carefully before jumping into the water from a boat or wharf.
• Do not swim near people fishing or spear fishing.
• If a shark is sighted in the area leave the water as quickly and calmly as possible.

If you see a shark

Stay calm! Some previously stated methods of repelling sharks (blowing bubbles, waving arms about, etc) could attract a shark resulting in an altering of the shark's initial response and may unintentionally provoke an attack response. Leave the area as quickly and as quietly as possible. However, if an attack is imminent try to keep the shark in sight and if it gets too close then any action you take may disrupt the attack pattern, such as hitting the shark's nose, gouging at its eyes, kicking it, etc.

If someone is bitten by a shark

First aid - once the patient is removed from the water:

• Treat the patient immediately on site.
• Stop the bleeding immediately by applying direct pressure above or on the wound, a tourniquet may be used if bleeding cannot be controlled by a pressure bandage.
• Reassure the patient at all times.
• Send for an ambulance and medical personnel (if possible do not move the patient if badly injured).
• Cover the patient lightly with clothing or a towel.
• Give nothing by mouth.