Clear the site where the leech is. Remove clothing or other impediments to manual access.
Locate the smaller, thinner end of the leech. This is the end with the head and the mouth with which the leech is sucking your blood. The larger, wider end is the rear of the leech and although it also is attached to your skin by suction, it has no role in the ingestion of blood.
Place your fingernail next to the head of the leech. Slide your fingernail sideways, pressing against the skin to separate the mouth from the wound. The motion will break the suction seal and move the mouth to a harmless position. Make sure the mouth does not reattach once you move your attention to the other end of the leech.
Perform the same process with the larger end of the leech. The leech should fall away from the wound once both ends have been detached.
Or, wait for the leech to finish feeding if you do not wish to remove it yourself. Feeding normally lasts less than 30 minutes. The leech will fall away on its own once it has eaten.
