Your Odds of Being Attacked

Year 2000 USA Beach Injuries and Fatalities

*From within the jurisdictions of 68 USLA East and West Coast ocean lifeguard agencies*

Here are what the real odds are based on the data below:

Drowning and other beach-related fatalites	1 in 2 million
Drowning fatalites	1 in 3.5 million
Shark attacks	1 in 11.5 million
Shark attack fatalites	0 in 264.1 million

Estimated attendance	264,156,728
Lifeguard provision of medical care	236,642
Lifeguard rescues from drowning	70,771
Drowning (lifeguard areas)	12
Drowning (non-lifeguard areas)	62
Fatalities (causes other than drowning)	58
Total fatalities	132
Unprovoked shark attack	23
Fatalities	0

Sources: USLA (from 68 ocean lifeguard agencies within jurisdiction), ISAF (same beach areas). In 2000 there were 52 unprovoked shark bites, including 1 fatality all US coastal waters.

© International Shark Attack File Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida