Chances are you’ve never really wondered too much about the little holes found at the top of pen lids, but this barely noticeable feature could well save your life
If asked to describe a pen in detail, many would perhaps leave out the tiny hole of the very top of the lid.
The hole is so small, you’d be forgiven for not noticing it, or imagining it was just a subtle design quirk rather than anything truly significant. Although it may be little, this hole is mighty – and could well save your life in a pinch.
This feature has previously sparked a conspiracy theory among more suspicious customers, who have speculated that it’s intended to dry up the ink quicker, reducing the life cycle of the pen, and bumping up sales. Those who’ve found themselves cursing at a dried-up pen they swear they only bought the other week will likely entertain this idea, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Indeed, this titchy space has a far more caring purpose, and it will resonate with anyone who can still recall gnawing away on the contents of their pencil case as a child…
On his YouTube channel, content creator Zack D., who makes short films about things that he – and many others – find fascinating, has explained to his 10.9 million subscribers that the holes are intended to prevent suffocation. Zack revealed: “Most people think it has something to do with the ink, but the actual reason is much more important than that. You see, it’s just enough space for airflow if the cap gets stuck in someone’s throat.'”
Given that many children have a habit of chewing their pens, this hole means they should still be able to breathe if they end up accidentally swallowing the lid. Zack’s video, which has clocked up more than eight million views and counting, has left many followers amazed, while others admit they’ve been guilty of pen chewing in the past.
Testifying as to the importance of the nifty lid design, one person wrote: “My sister was chewing on a pen once, and she swallowed the cap. Thank god there was that hole.” Another confessed: “I used to chew on the pen lids all the time at school… and used them to annoy the teacher by using it as a whistle.”
As per an explanation published on the BIC Cristal website: “In addition to helping prevent the pen from leaking, all our BIC caps comply with international safety standards that attempt to minimise the risk of children accidentally inhaling pen caps.”
You certainly do learn something new every day.
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