Fishhooks

“Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks” – unknown

I come from a family of fisherman – my grandfather, father and two uncles love to fish. I don’t. All the bad things happen to me. For example, one of the risks of fishing is throwing a bad cast and catching the hook on yourself or a friend.

Most fishhooks are barbed and designed NOT to come free from a fish once hooked. If you’re lucky and only the tip of the hook has pricked your skin, then it can be pulled out easily. But if you’re unlucky and the barb has become embedded in your flesh, DO NOT pull! You could tear a deep, ragged hole by pulling against the barb.

A fishhook embedded in skin should be removed by a doctor. However, if you are in a remote area and a doctor is not available, remove the fishhook by cutting the eye (the round part you tie the line to) off the shank (the long straight bar) of the hook. If you have ice you might want to numb the wound area. Then PUSH the hook through and out of your skin. Flush the wound thoroughly with running water, clean it with soap and water, and cover it with a bandage. See a doctor afterwards about a Tetanus booster shot.

Bottom Line

Never try to remove a fishhook that is embedded in the eye or face; seek medical attention immediately to have it removed.

See www.aafp.org/afp/20010601/2231.html for more advanced methods of hook removal.