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  • Alissa Isenhath

On Shark Attacks, Flesh-Eating Bacteria & Red Tides

Mother Nature has been pissed this summer.


Shark attacks.


Necrotizing fasciitis.


Red tide.


Are your bookings down? Getting cancellations?


Phones ringing off the hook from panicky guests with questions you can’t answer?


I thought so.


So, I did some research and have created fact sheets and provided fantastic resources for all 3 of these phenomena. Obviously, these are all very serious situations and I think it’s vitally important that you are distributing verifiable facts to combat all the rumors, the innuendo and of course, the resulting fear and panic.


A few caveats before I get to it.


Don’t gloss over or minimize your guests concerns. Phrases like, “Oh, we haven’t had any of that here”, are not just unhelpful, they’re also potentially dangerous. Just because something hasn’t happened in your area is no guarantee that it won’t.


Make sure everyone in your office is educated. Do you think the day won’t come when all your front office people are either busy or on the phone and the bookkeeper won’t answer the phone to a freaked-out guest? Think again.


Let your guests know that while, yes, there have been some problems this summer, there are precautions they can take that will minimize their risks. Don’t let any staff member say, “Just stay out of the water at dawn and dusk and you’ll be fine.” That’s minimizing. There ARE risks and your guests have the right to be fully informed.


Okay! Let’s start with the sharks.




SHARK ATTACK FACT SHEET


Though it seems hard to believe given all the recent press, shark attacks are extremely rare. According to The Wildlife Museum (www.thewildlifemuseum.org), you have only a 1 in 3,748,067 chance of being attacked and killed by a shark. Need some perspective? You’ve got a 1 in 79,746 chance of being struck and killed by lightning.


Many theories abound regarding the seeming uptick in shark attacks, but the one that most experts agree on in climate change. The oceans are warming, becoming more hospitable to a greater diversity of shark populations.


There are over 500 species of sharks, many of them harmless. As a matter of fact, only 3 species of shark - great white, tiger and bull - are responsible for the vast majority of all attacks.


Sharks do not hunt humans. Their main food sources are smaller fish and invertebrates. Some of the larger species prey on seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals. Shark attacks on humans typically occur only when sharks become confused (perhaps by murky water) or curious (seeing splashing up ahead, the glint of jewelry or bright colors).


Generally speaking, sharks have far more to fear from humans than the other way around. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t educate ourselves on how to minimize the risk of an encounter.


Tips to Keep Yourself and Your Loved Ones Safe from Sharks


1. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security because no shark encounters have been reported in your vacation area. Sharks inhabit all of the oceans of the earth, as well as freshwater rivers and lakes. They are all around us, all the time and more than 99% of the time, we peacefully coexist with them.


2. Stay in shallow water. This is not because sharks don’t cruise shallow water for prey (they do), but because if you do have an encounter, it will be easier for you to return to shore for help.


3. Don’t wear jewelry into the water. The glint off your jewelry mimics the sheen from a fish-scale and will mark you as prey in the shark’s eyes.


4. Don’t wear bright colors, particularly in murky water. Sharks can easily see contrasts in color.


5. Stay in a group. Sharks are more likely to attack an individual than a group.


6. DO NOT go into the water if you are bleeding, even just a small cut or scratch. This includes menstrual cycles. Remember the old adage about a shark smelling blood? It’s true.


7. Sharks eat breakfast and dinner just like we do. Don’t interrupt their meal times. Stay out of the water at dawn and dusk.


8. Interestingly, sharks seem to congregate at sandbars, steep drop-offs and estuary inlets. Stay away from them.


9. Similarly, don’t swim near piers, fishing boats or any areas where fishermen are tossing fish parts into the water. The blood will attract sharks and/or the fish that sharks feed on. Neither is good.


10. Stop yourself (and your kids) from splashing around excessively. This action mimics the movement of injured or confused prey, which could attract sharks.


11. If you see large groups of dolphins, seals, sea lions or shorebirds, stay away. They eat the same foods sharks eat.


IF YOU DO ENCOUNTER A SHARK


1. If possible, simply exit the water. Calmly and quickly, with an absolute minimum of splashing, which will trigger the shark to want to investigate.


2. If it’s not possible to exit the water, STAY CALM and don’t move suddenly. Keep in mind, it is NOT a good strategy to play dead with sharks.


3. Keep your eyes on the shark at all times. Sharks are ambush predators, so if you do not allow him out of your sight, you may reduce the likelihood of an attack by about half.


4. Call for help from anyone nearby. Keep your voice low and calm.


5. Try to put yourself in a defensive posture and reduce the shark’s possible angles of attack. Stand in shallow water or slowly back up against a reef, piling or rock outcropping.


6. If an attack is imminent, fight back with any tools you can find, including your body. Aim for the sensitive eyes and gills. The snout is also one the shark’s few vulnerable. Punch or gouge with all of your strength.


7. After the shark gives up and swims away, back up slowly and calmly and get to shore as fast as you can.



NECROTIZING FASCIITIS FACT SHEET


What is it?

Better known as “flesh-eating bacteria”, necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is defined by the CDC as a rare bacterial infection that spreads quickly in the body and can cause death.


What causes it?

NF enters the body through a break in the skin, such as cuts and scrapes, insect bites, burns, puncture wounds (like from intravenous or IV drug use) or surgical wounds.


As its nickname implies, NF is caused by bacteria. At the present time, several strains of bacteria are known to cause NF, such as Group A Streptococcus and (Group A Strep), Staphylococcus (Staph) and Vibrio vulnificus (V. Vulnificus). There are other strains of bacteria that can cause NF, as well.


There seem to be more cases being diagnosed all the time. Why is this?

NF is still pretty rare. The CDC reports 700 to 1200 cases per year, though this figure may be low. According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in June, 2019, climate change and the resulting warmer water temperatures may be to blame for the rise in cases of NF.


What are the symptoms of NF?

According to WebMD.com, early symptoms (within the first 24 hours after infection) include:


  • Increasing pain in the general area of a minor cut, abrasion, or other skin opening.

  • Pain that is worse than would be expected from the appearance of the cut or abrasion.

  • Redness and warmth around the wound, though symptoms can begin at other areas of the body.

  • Flu-like symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, fever, dizziness, weakness, and general malaise.

  • Intense thirst due to dehydration.

Within 3 to 4 days after infection, symptoms may include:


  • Swelling, possibly accompanied by a purplish rash.

  • Large, violet-colored marks that transform into blisters filled with dark, foul-smelling fluid.

  • Discoloration, peeling, and flakiness as tissue death (gangrene) occurs.


Critical symptoms appear within 4-5 days after infection and may include:


  • Severe drop in blood pressure

  • Toxic shock

  • Unconsciousness

When should I go to the doctor?

Immediately upon detecting the first symptoms. Do not wait. The faster you begin treatment, the less likely you are to suffer serious complications.


What are the risk factors?

Most healthy teenagers and adults should not contract NF. Typically, the very young, the elderly and the immuno-suppressed are more likely targets for the infection. Those individuals with the following health factors appear to be particularly susceptible:


Diabetes

Kidney disease

Scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver

Cancer


Should I stay out of the water?

If you have any cuts, scrapes, punctures or other wounds, an abundance of caution would dictate staying out of the water. Similarly, if you have any of the above health risks, it also may be a good idea to stay on land. If you are young and healthy with none of the risk factors mentioned, there’s no reason to suspect you are at risk, but ultimately, only each individual can make that decision for him or herself.


How it is treated?

If NF is caught in early stages, it is treatable with intravenous antibiotics, surgery, medication and many other methods. The longer after infection one waits to seek medical help, the more severe the intervention will be, up to and including limb amputation and death. Even if NF is found and treated early, it is likely there will be lasting reminders from the ordeal.


Can I catch it from someone?

Typically, no. It is very rare for patients to infect others. So rare, in fact, that most doctors don’t prescribe preventive antibiotics to the people close to the NF victim. Don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security. Always practice good hygiene, i.e., wash your hands with soap and carefully treat any wound, no matter how superficial.


What can I do to protect myself?

There is no surefire way to prevent NF. However, basic good hygience practices can dramatically lower your chances of becoming infected:


  • Wash your hands frequently with soap

  • Treat any wounds, even minor ones, promptly and thoroughly.

  • Change your bandages regularly or when they become wet or dirty and don’t put yourself in situations where your wound could become contaminated.

  • The CDC lists hot tubs, whirlpools, and swimming pools as examples of places you should avoid when you have a wound.

Go to your doctor or the emergency room immediately if you think there’s any chance you may have necrotizing fasciitis. Treating the infection early is very important to avoid complications.






RED TIDES INFORMATION


I searched high and low to bring you the most updated and unbiased information I could on Red Tides. Since this article in National Geographic explains it all with a depth and clarity I couldn’t hope to achieve, I will simply provide you a link to the article.



Because this article only discusses red tide in Gulf of Mexico, off California, and in the Gulf of Maine, I am also attaching NOAA Forecast for Red Tide in Florida & Texas, which may be helpful and informative to many of you.



I hope this information proves helpful for you and your guests. While I understand these topics are not pleasant to discuss with guests, I also think that knowledge is power. Both yours and theirs.


If you can present thoughtful, researched and complete answers to their questions, I believe you are far more likely to allay their fears and save your reservations.


By being honest and saying, “Yes, there’s been a problem, but here are the facts and this is how to protect yourself”, you’ll gain the respect and earn the trust of your current and potential guests.


By saying, “Oh, don’t worry about it. That hasn’t happened here.” or “I don’t know the answer to your question. Let me ask my manager and call you back”, you are approaching your business from a reactive mode and minimizing your guests (very real) concerns.


Be proactive and get ahead of this.


I daresay that climate issues will be increasing in the coming years. Your marketing may well have to evolve to address these issues.


If you start now, you’ll be way ahead of the curve, like the true leaders you all are.


Need some help addressing your upcoming (or present) marketing challenges? Get in touch! Here’s the link: www.AlissaIsenhath.com/contact

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