Why Do BIC Pens Have a Hole in the Lid?

From the Independent:

There is an important reason for the hole at the top a BIC pen lid and it is not about preventing the ink drying on the nib.

The hole is designed to allow the passage of air if someone accidentally swallows it and it blocks their windpipe.

BIC said on its website: "In addition to help prevent the pen from leaking, all our BIC caps comply with international safety standards that attempt to minimize the risk of children accidentally inhaling pen caps."

"Some of these vented caps, like that used for the BIC Cristal (above and below), have a little hole in the top to comply with the existing safety standards."

A hundred people every year in the U.S. have been reported to choke to death on these pen lids.

A reduction in this figure has been attributed to the hole in the lid, with other companies introducing a similar design feature.

I tried using the lid — or cap as it's called in the U.S. — to breathe, holding my nose shut.

At first I had trouble but when I calmed down and lowered my respiratory rate, I found I could maintain life-sustaining air exchange indefinitely.

Go ahead, try it.