How to Remove a Fish Hook from Your Skin
If you’re into fishing, it’s likely that you’re going to put the hook not through a fish, but somewhere else-like your hand or your back, for instance. It’s funny when you see it happening in movies, but when it happens in real life, it can be painful and alarming. You need to know how to properly remove a fish hook properly and as effectively as possible, so there won’t be any more problems.
Before Anything Else
Don’t panic. It’s just a piece of metal and it can be taken out. Remain calm so the hook will be easier to remove.
Wash your hands. Whether you’re doing this to yourself or to another person, make sure your hands are clean and well sanitized, to prevent further infections.
Numb the skin. Rub a piece of ice over the area. This will help lessen the pain when you remove the fish hook.
If the fish hook is embedded in any bone, ligament, tendon or in your face, don’t try removing it yourself. Let a professional do it for you, otherwise you’ll only hurt yourself more.
Removing The Fish Hook
Look at the wound first. Fish hooks have a barb; this is a point that faces backwards and prevents the hook from being pulled free easily. If the hook isn’t embedded in your skin up to the barb, you can pull it out easily. If its embedded past the barb, don’t pull on the line, or it will be more painful.
Use a knife or scissors to cut the knife at a convenient spot, so you free yourself from the fishing pole. Set the pole aside.
The head is the part of the hook where the line is tied to. Get a pair of wire cutters, then clip the head off the fish hook, just so a part of the shaft is visible.
Now you’re ready to remove the hook. Push the hook’s point through the skin, doing so in a curved path. This will bring it to the surface in a the shortest possible distance. As the point is visible, pull the hook out in the same direction. Be ready, because this can be painful.
Let the wound bleed, to wash away any germs or infections it might be carrying.
Wash it with soap and water then apply an antibacterial cream to prevent infection. It’s also a good idea to have an anti-tetanus shot.
The trick to removing a fish hook is the same as when you’re fishing: be calm and steady. It’s a painful ordeal, but extracting it properly is very important.