Warm weather means people flocking to the beaches in North Carolina. However, in recent years, there has been a lot of talk about shark attacks, even close to shore. This may keep you away from the beach out of fear that a shark could attack you, but how likely is that to really happen? The News & Observer explains that shark attacks are not really that common.
There are actually many other more mundane things that have a higher chance of killing you. Shark attacks are just so feared and sensationalized that when one happens, it makes the news. It is similar to airplane crashes. They always make news because they do not happen often, but flying is the safest form of travel.
However, North Carolina makes it in the top five states for shark attacks. Of course, you do have to consider that many states are landlocked or in areas where sharks simply do not live. Plus, only one person has died from an attack in 58 years in the state. There are only an average of two attacks per year here as well.
Your biggest worry when heading to the beach is water safety. Drowning kills far more beachgoers than sharks. Just stay alert and pay attention to warnings issued abut sharks before you head out to the beach. You will probably not even see a shark let alone have one close enough to attack you.
The fear is really only something drummed up by Hollywood and the news media. The reality is the beaches are a safe place where shark attacks rarely happen. This is information for education only and is not legal advice.