EMERGENCIES: FISHHOOKS
Hooking more than the fishFishhooks are designed with a barb to keep the fish hooked. Unfortunately, the barb works the same way on people once the skin is punctured. It is useful to know how to remove a fishhook for yourself or a companion, especially if you are any distance from medical help. If the injured person is a small child or unable to cooperate, a local anesthetic to numb the injured area may be needed.What you can do if the hook is near the skin surfaceStep 1: Apply ice or cold water to provide temporary numbing.Step 2: Loop a piece of fishing line through hook. Make the line long enough to grasp securely with your hand.Step 3: Grasp eye or shaft of hook with one hand and press down about one-eighth inch to disengage barb.Step 4: While still pressing down on hook, jerk the line parallel to skin surface so hook shaft leads barb out of skin.Step 5: Wash wound thoroughly with soap and water. Treat as you would a puncture wound.If the hook is deeply embeddedStep 1: Apply ice or cold water to provide temporary numbing.Step 2: Push hook through the skin.Step 3: Cut off barb with wire cutters.Step 4: Pull hook back out.Step 5: Wash wound thoroughly with soap and water. Treat as you would a puncture wound.*17\303\2*
