One of the most common accidents among anglers and people who enjoy fishing is the accidental fishhook. The design of a fishhook is such that it cannot easily slip out of the fish\’s mouth. This is achieved by placing a barb at the hook end of the fishhook to prevent it from passing back through the hole it made when entering the flesh. If you are fishing way out in the woods where there is no medical help, it is good to know how to remove a fishhook.

1. If the injured person is a child or is sensitive to pain, you can numb the area with ice if there is any available.

2. Run a piece of fishing line under the hook and grasp both ends of the line.

3. Grasp the hook by the eye and press down about an eight of an inch in order to disengage the barb from flesh.

4. Jerk the fishing line you looped under the hook while still pressing down on hook so that the barb will follow the shaft out of the hole it came in through without engaging the barb. The trick to this is doing it quickly while the depressed hook has the hole opened.

5. Cleanse the wound on both ends with soap and water and treat with an antiseptic spray or ointment on a band-aid. Soak the wound in warm water a few times a day to promote healing and watch it for infection.

If the fishing hook is deeply embedded in the skin and will not come out using this method, try this alternative.

1. Apply ice if available to numb the wound.

2. If the hook is not already all the way out of the skin, push it out so that the person is completely hooked.

3. With wire cutters or pliers, cut off the eye end of the hook, the end the fishing line is tied to is cut off leaving a straight shaft with no end.

4. Pull the hook all the way through, so that the shaft comes out of the hook end.

5. Wash the wound with soapy water and treat with Neosporin ointment on a Band-Aid. Watch for infection. Soaking the wound in warm water several times a day will promote healing.

If the fishhook is in a person\’s eye, never try to remove it. Seek emergency services immediately. Keep the person very still. With tape, put a plastic or Styrofoam cup or any other container over the eye and secure it with the tape. Cover both of the victim\’s eyes to remove the chance of eye movement that could cause much more damage to the eye.

HIPAA Training includes what to watch for should infection arise. Watch for infection for 24 to 48 hours. If signs of infection develop, seek medical treatment immediately. Tell the doctor when your last tetanus shot was and whether you completed your primary series. If the child is too jumpy or will not allow you to remove a fishhook from the skin, seek medical attention so that it can be taken out and treated.

Author Bio: For more information please visit our HIPAA Security Rule website.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: tetanus shot ,medical treatment ,HIPAA Training ,medical,fishhook