Originally Posted by
WizardOfBoz
I was being flip and, hence, unclear. I agree. In any case, once you get back home, you should remove the goat head from the tire and tube (tire inspection most easily done by first removing stuff from the outside of the tire, then inverting the tire inside-out and carefully feeling for any sharp protrusions). The patch the tube and reinstall.
Again, only if you aren't using sealant. And even then it's a risky proposition. The goat head is just about as likely to fall out as it is to stay in.
Originally Posted by
WizardOfBoz
Also I understand it, if you get stabbed, you're supposed to leave the knife in and let the doc take it out. Same reason as the goat head: the knife acts as a plug.
Yes with the knife and with the goat head in normal situations. But if you had blood that coagulated faster, you'd be better off removing the knife. That's what sealant does. Also...and being a bit graphic and morbid here...leaving the knife in would depend on the knife. If it has blood channels in it, it would be better to remove it so that blood can coagulate. That's somewhat analogous to sealant and goatheads. Removing the goathead would be better so that the sealant could do its job instead of leaving it there so that the seal is constantly broken and reformed.