When hooked on fishing takes on whole new meaning

It's great to be hooked on the sport of fishing, the saying goes.
There's little doubt attempting to coax a trophy-sized fish to inhale an offering tied to the end of your line can induce a rush of adrenaline.
As exhilarating as this can be, there's occasions when being hooked on this time-honoured recreational pursuit can pose some painful yet embarassing moments.
Especially if you're the recipient of a hook embedded in some part of your anatomy.
I'm sure if a fish could converse with humans, they would have the last laugh.
As unavoidable as these incidents may be, there are some safeguards you can take to help ease the suffering.
Foremost is to have as a part of your angling arsenal a first aid kit that includes bandages, hydrogen peroxide and a set of wire cutters.
This would definitely give you a head start should the unthinkable happen.
But when it does, it's imperative for you and those around you to take a calm and collected approach — especially if there isn't a medical facility nearby.
While carrying a cell phone and dialing 911 might provide some immediate assistance, a situation could arise where your phone is rendered useless. In that case, you will be forced to administer to the task at hand.
When treating a victim, guard against potential shock and work to control bleeding.
Hook wounds tend to come in two different degrees.
The least dangerous is if the hook penetrates just below the skin's surface. In this case, a hook can be removed with relative ease.
Far more serious though is if a hook penetrates deeper as it can't simply be pulled out due to it's barbed end.
If this occurs, cut the hook off just below the eye with a set of wire cutters. Cleanse the exposed hook and wound with hydrogen peroxide. If you don't have any, apply soap and water. Proceed to force the hook all the way through and pull it out.
Then cover the wound with a bandage.
Medical assistance should then be sought to prevent further damage or infection.
If a hook cannot be removed, which happens if the barb remains on the hook or if the hook point is razor sharp, cut the hook below the eye and cleanse the would and exposed hook area with hydrogen peroxide or soap and water.
Place a gauze padding around the affected area and tape it securely into place and seek medical assistance as quickly as possible.
In extreme cases where a hook might enter into someone's eye, cover the affected area immediately and do not attempt to remove the hook. Cover both of victim's eyes to prevent the injured eye from moving.
While you hope such incidents don't occur when you're out on the water, it doesn't hurt to have some basic first aid knowledge. St. John Ambulance offers such courses.
In York Region, the St. John Ambulance branch is in Richmond Hill at 13025 Yonge St. and can be reached at 905-773-3394 or by visiting www.sja-yorkregion.org