GREENSBORO, N.C. —
Rip Currents
The National Weather Service said an ocean swell and full moon caused strong waves and rip tides.
No deaths from drowning were reported in North Carolina, although at least six people died in Florida.
So, what should you do if you feel yourself caught in a rip tide?
Rip currents push water out to sea, making them very dangerous.
If you feel yourself being dragged out, swim parallel to the shore that way you can escape the current and safely move back to shore.
If you try to swim directly against the current, that's when you can get into trouble you can get tired and drown.
Shark Attacks
The Carolinas have also seen multiple shark attacks in the past week.
A 14-year-old survived a shark bite on North Topsail Beach Monday.
Police in Brunswick County said a man went to the hospital for a shark bite.
With all that said, your chances of being attacked by a shark are low
Business Insider reports the number to be one in 3.75 million.
You have a better chance to be struck by lightning.
But what if that one in 3 million chance becomes a reality?
What should you do?
WFMY News 2 talked to expert Rachel Rodgers.
She dives with the sharks at the Greensboro Science Center.
Rodgers said shark attacks are incredibly rare.
She said there's only about 70 shark attacks worldwide and only a handful are fatal.
Rodgers said sharks have a weakness.
“Sharks tend to be very sensitive around the gills. So let's say you are attacked by a shark and have one attached to you, you prod its gills and it should let go,” Rodgers said.
She said that generally any attack to the face should discourage the shark.
She said you should immediately get out of the water and call 911.
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