If you’ve never noticed that Bic pens with a cap have a hole in the lid, you’re not alone. Pen companies are actually required to add the little holes. Many believe the holes are related to the ink in the pen, but they actually have a far more crucial function. It turns out that the holes are there because they allow just enough space for airflow if the cap should get stuck in someone’s throat. Without the hole to allow for the passage of air, anyone who accidentally swallowed the cap would suffocate with the lid trapped in their windpipe. Statistics show that approximately 100 people in the United States alone choke to death on pen lids every year.
