By Peter Jaret
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVEBelow:
• Caution
• What you'll need
• What to do
If you enjoy going fishing, it's important to be prepared in case you accidentally get a fishhook caught in your skin. Caution There are two circumstances when you should not try to remove a fishhook on your own: • When a fishhook is caught in the eye or face. |
| •When the hook is so deeply embedded in the skin that removing it would cause more serious injury. |
In these cases, cut the fishing line as close as possible to the hook, so that it doesn't tug on the hook. Then, if you have first aid supplies handy, use them to dress the area to avoid further injury. First, take two gauze pads and gently place them on either side of the exposed hook. Be careful not to press the hook down into the skin. Make sure the gauze pads are level with the top of the hook. Then carefully bandage over the pads and the hook. The goal is to prevent the hook from penetrating deeper while you seek medical help. To remove a fishhook What you'll need A pair of pliers or wire cutters, mild soap, water, and bandages. What to do If only the point of the hook has entered the skin, remove it by carefully pulling it out. Wash the area with mild soap and running water and apply a bandage. If the point and the barb of the hook have penetrated the skin, do not pull the hook -- the barb could cause unnecessary injury. In this case, the best strategy is to continue to push the hook through the skin until the barb comes out. Using the pliers or clippers, snip off the barb. Then carefully remove the remaining part of the hook by gently pulling on the end attached to the fish line. Wash the entry and exit points with mild soap and running water. After drying off the site, apply a bandage. Even after you have removed the hook, there's always the possibility that an infection could develop. If you haven't been vaccinated in the last 10 years, you may need a tetanus booster shot. This means that even if you've successfully removed the hook by yourself, it's a good idea to see a doctor. -- Peter Jaret is a contributing editor for Health magazine and a winner of the American Medical Association's award for medical reporting.
References
Handbook of First Aid and Emergency Care, American Medical Association, 2000.
American College of Emergency Physicians, First Aid Manual, 2001.
The American Red Cross First Aid &Safety Handbook, 1992.
Reviewed by Michael Potter, MD, an attending physician and associate clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco. He is board-certified in family practice.
First published September 20, 2004
Last updated February 26, 2007
Copyright © 2004 Consumer Health Interactive
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