Dr. Beach's Survival Guide : What You Need to Know about Sharks, Rip Currents, and More Before Going in the Water

by Stephen P. Leatherman

• ISBN13: 9780300100280
• ISBN10: 0300100280
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-04-10
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

Here, from the nation's most renowned beach expert, is the first complete guide to beach safety. Stephen P. Leatherman (a.k.a. Dr. Beach) introduces the gamut of beach hazards -- from sharks to rip currents to jellyfish -- revealing which dangers should be of greatest concern and how best to minimize their risks. His scientifically sound advice, interspersed with fascinating facts and anecdotes, makes this book a perfect reference for the millions who visit the ocean shore every year. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Stephen P. Leatherman, popularly known as Dr. Beach, announces his Top Beaches list on national television every Memorial Day weekend. He is chair, professor, and director, International Hurricane Center and Laboratory for Coastal Research, Florida International University, and the author or editor of fifteen books on coastal science

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	1	(2)
Sharks	3	(40)
The Unholy Trinity	12	(2)
Great White Sharks	14	(4)
Tiger Sharks	18	(4)
Bull Sharks	22	(4)
Shark Beach	26	(4)
Profiling and Avoiding Shark Attacks	30	(8)
Sharkmania and Misconceptions	38	(2)
Shark Feeding	40	(3)
Rip Currents	43	(31)
The Surf Beach	44	(5)
What Causes Rip Currents	49	(4)
Recognizing and Escaping Rips	53	(3)
East Coast	56	(10)
Gulf Coast	66	(1)
Pacific Coast	67	(4)
Tales from Abroad	71	(3)
Beach Smart	74	(14)
Sunburn and Skin Cancer	75	(2)
Lightning Strikes	77	(3)
First Flush	80	(2)
Red Tides	82	(1)
Jellyfish Alert	82	(2)
Dangerous Waves	84	(4)
Conclusion	88	(3)
Shark Facts	89	(1)
Rip Current Statistics	90	(1)
Notes	91	(2)
For Further Reading	93	(11)
Appendixes
A. Shark Attacks Versus Other Injuries	95	(2)
B. Warning Signs on the Beach	97	(1)
C. Common Marine Organisms That Can Injure You	98	(2)
D. America's Top Beaches	100	(4)
E. How the Top Beaches Are Chosen	104