1 in 11.5 million

Every summer, Janet Loehrke dives deep into the world of sharks.

As a graphic designer at USA TODAY, Loehrke tracks the data about the ocean's biggest, and often scariest, swimmers. And this year she's here to offer you a reminder: It might seem as if shark attacks are on the rise after attacks on South Padre Island and in Florida last month, which injured several people.

But shark attacks are still considered rare.

👋 Nicole Fallert here and welcome to Your Week, our newsletter exclusively for USA TODAY subscribers (that's you!). This week, we talk with Loehrke about shark season and whether you should really be scared when you dip your toes in the water.

It's been a big week. Here's a few of my favorite reads from USA TODAY's newsroom:

• Where does Kamala Harris stand on immigration ?
• Violent crime rates in American cities is largely back to pre-pandemic levels .
• Rotting teeth and more stories from America's dental health crisis .
• American Olympic officials' shameful behavior ignores doping truths .
• What happens when polyamory leads to pregnancy ?

It's not about you, it's them

Perhaps you find yourself on the ride to the beach this time of year. The inevitable checklist of sunscreen, ice, umbrella and towel often come with another thought: Will there be sharks?

This time of year, Americans think about sharks more. This leads to heightened awareness of the risk these animals pose to humans, Loehrke says, but it doesn't necessarily mean shark attacks are happening at a higher rate than other months of the year. Headlines about shark attacks peak in the summer, often making it seem as if these incidents are happening more than ever.

Long story short: You're going to be OK. The Florida Museum, a state natural history museum, puts the odds of being attacked by a shark at 1 in 11.5 million. But it never hurts to exercise caution when swimming in the home of one of the planet's largest predators.

Are shark attacks increasing? What experts have to say

And while shark attacks haven't necessarily increased, there have been new trends in where and how these incidents take place. Increasingly, storms also can change the surface of the sea, creating new sandbars where they were none, stranding a shark on the side closest to shore when the tide goes out.

Changes in water temperature and beach formation certainly play a role, as do behaviors like fishing off the beach, which can attract these meat-eaters. It's probably a good idea to swim far away from fishers, but Loehrke says that at the end of the day, sharks want less to do with humans and more to do with finding their dinner. Changing conditions leads them to run in with people when they're trying to get a meal.

"The majority of the time sharks don't care about humans," Loehrke said. "But it also comes to reason there could be more chances for humans to be a victim at one point or another."

Five ways to reduce your risk of an attack

1. Have a swimming buddy; don't go into the water alone.
2. Don't swim at dawn or at dusk. The light is low, which can increase your risk of a shark mistaking you for other prey.
3. Don't enter waters where people are fishing.
4. Don't wear shiny jewelry. It can catch the sunlight and glint, much like fish that sharks prey upon.
5. Try to avoid splashing. It generates a sound similar to that of struggling fish, which can attract sharks.

Thank you

I will be swimming cautiously this summer thanks to the expertise from colleagues like Janet. Thank you for supporting our journalism with your subscription. Our work wouldn't be possible without you.

Best wishes,

Nicole Fallert

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 1 in 11.5 million