Beaches in Long Island, N.Y. were packed with people over the Fourth of July holiday, but now, officials are sending a warning to swimmers and ramping up patrols after a string of possible shark attacks.
Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, said, “If visibility is low and there are lots of people in the water, accidents can happen.”
Encounters with sharks are rare, but in the unlikely event that you come face-to-face with the sea creature, there are things you can do to diminish your chances of an attack.
“People should always swim in groups,” Naylor added. “They shouldn’t stray too far from the shore, and they should particularly avoid bait fish.”