Shark attack in summer: Here's what to do and how to stabilize a victim in real time
Fox News
Chance encounters with sharks tend to increase in summer with more people in the water, so — in the unlikely event of an attack — experts shared key advice on stabilizing a victim.
Applying firm pressure to the bleeding vessel should be done by crisscrossing the hands and straightening the elbows — but it must be done for at least five minutes. Jacobs said a tourniquet should only be placed for a maximum of an hour. Fight back with anything available, such as a paddle, a boogie board, a surfboard, dive gear or fishing equipment, said Fisher.
"In terms of treatment, we treat shark bite injuries as we would any other trauma with hemorrhage," said Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History.
"Pressure, tourniquet, minimize blood loss [and] treat for shock," he added. "Speed is of the essence. Secondary concerns are infection."