4 ms·

I had 20 leeches in the bottoms of both feet when I was a kid. They were borrowed in there...there was no removing them manually. Fortunately my quick-thinking

I had 20 leeches in the bottoms of both feet when I was a kid. They were borrowed in there...there was no removing them manually. Fortunately my quick-thinking parent had spray mosquito repellant - sprayed the bottom of my feet and the leeches all let go and crawled out in about 15 seconds. So use spray mosquito repellant is my personal recommendation.

loloquwowndueo 1y ago
*burrowed
- IAmBroom 1y ago
  You don't know that. Maybe they took the adage literally, and tried to walk in his shoes.
quesera 1y ago
Are you sure they were leeches? A quick (horrified) web search suggests that there are no leech species that burrow into flesh.
- jaybrendansmith 1y ago
  Wow, if only you had been there to see it. Yes, they BURROWED. Yes, it was horrifying. They were fat and full of blood as they dripped off my feet. I have a quite accurate visual memory of certain past events. I still remember my mother's face, she was terrified, but also quick thinking, and I didn't feel a thing. I have a healthy respect for leeches, but strangely, the incident left me feeling quite invincible. My feet were fine the next day.
  - quesera 1y ago
    I've dealt with ordinary fresh water leeches, and hope never to again. I don't know if I'd approach within 30 feet of water after your experience! :)
dragonwriter 1y ago
IIRC, all chemical removal methods (including DEET/mosquito repellant) have the same potential downsides as salting; they increase the risk of the leech vomiting back into the wound and causing an infection.
- snvzz 1y ago
  Even good old alcohol?
  - doublerabbit 1y ago
    They get drunk and go after your wife.
wkat4242 1y ago
The one time I had leeches they just popped off on their own. They were huge so they were probably full. My white T shirt had turned into a red one... Because of the anticoagulant. Not a fan of them but where I live now they don't exist

loloquwowndueo 1y ago

*burrowed

IAmBroom 1y ago
You don't know that. Maybe they took the adage literally, and tried to walk in his shoes.

quesera 1y ago

Are you sure they were leeches? A quick (horrified) web search suggests that there are no leech species that burrow into flesh.

jaybrendansmith 1y ago
Wow, if only you had been there to see it. Yes, they BURROWED. Yes, it was horrifying. They were fat and full of blood as they dripped off my feet. I have a quite accurate visual memory of certain past events. I still remember my mother's face, she was terrified, but also quick thinking, and I didn't feel a thing. I have a healthy respect for leeches, but strangely, the incident left me feeling quite invincible. My feet were fine the next day.
- quesera 1y ago
  I've dealt with ordinary fresh water leeches, and hope never to again. I don't know if I'd approach within 30 feet of water after your experience! :)

dragonwriter 1y ago

IIRC, all chemical removal methods (including DEET/mosquito repellant) have the same potential downsides as salting; they increase the risk of the leech vomiting back into the wound and causing an infection.

snvzz 1y ago
Even good old alcohol?
- doublerabbit 1y ago
  They get drunk and go after your wife.

wkat4242 1y ago

The one time I had leeches they just popped off on their own. They were huge so they were probably full. My white T shirt had turned into a red one... Because of the anticoagulant. Not a fan of them but where I live now they don't exist