Shark Encounters in Hawaii
Sharks!!! Don’t Let “Jaws” Scare You
Next time you freak out about a shark attack sensationalized in the media, don’t panic. You’re way more likely to be “scared to death” than to be eaten by a shark. Fact is, heart failure is still the leading cause of death in the U.S. by far — 652,486 deaths in 2004. There were just 2 shark-related deaths in the U.S.that same year, only one in 2005, and none in 2006. So lay off the butter, and dive in!
According to the International Shark Attack File, between 1580 and 2004 there were only 1,969 confirmed shark attacks worldwide. In the U.S. during this period, there were 761 confirmed shark attacks, with 39 deaths. Hawaii accounted for 100 of these attacks during almost 500 years, resulting in 15 deaths. So how does this compare to other types of accidental deaths?