Via email from a member of the Access Excellence community...

Subject: Leeches and Anti-Clotting Agents

Personal experience has shown me that pulling leeches off is a poor choice. I have witnessed skin tears far worse than the leech puncture itself. The tears also bleed profusely, but much, much more than the leech nip.

On wilderness canoe trips or swimming at the lake I have found these methods work well:

• Use a knife blade to slip under the rim of the suction cup. The leech simply comes off.
• Use salt. Leeches do not like salt and will drop off.
• In the 1960's many adults smoked. A lit cigarette, match or lighter held against a leech will cause it to drop off. This was the common way our moms got them off of us.

Hopefully these might help others avoid the 'rip and tear'.

Jim Sangster