The barbecued chicken was probably the best Peter Richards had ever tasted – a tasty feast prepared by his wife Lindsey that even the kids enjoyed. He joked with Greta, then 3, that if she didn’t eat the three chops she caught, he would.
She gave him the third piece and he did just that, but as he swallowed it, he felt like he hadn’t chewed it enough. Only it hurt more than that. Maybe it was a bone shard, he thought, so he Googled how to dislodge it.
He ate a slice of bread. Swallowed a banana. Nothing worked. Swallowing hurt so much that he lay awake all night.
He told the story to the Deseret News a year after it happened.
In the morning, Richards, who runs an energy consulting company and lives in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, dropped the kids off at school and then saw his doctor, who couldn’t find a reason for his pain and sent him to the emergency room for tests.
The culprit was clearly visible on the X-ray: a thin piece of wire was stuck in his throat. It was a bristle from a wire brush used to clean the barbecue grill.
Richards quickly learned that her journey, which included three surgeries in four days and a feeding tube just in case, wasn’t uncommon. A study published in the journal Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery found that about 1,700 people went to the emergency room for such an injury between 2002 and 2014. More hairs are thought to be swallowed but pass through without causing harm. And sometimes, people can retrieve them themselves.
Most injuries occur in the mouth or throat. But the stiff metal bristles can puncture almost any part of the digestive tract and cause life-threatening injuries, including intestinal obstruction, perforation, and infection.
Dr. Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, told Today magazine about a case she treated: a little boy who complained of excruciating ear pain. It took multiple exams by different doctors before they discovered that he had a piece of wire from a wire brush lodged so deep in his tonsil tissue that a scan didn’t show it. That required a CT scan.
Symptoms may not even appear for a few days, long after a meal cooked on the grill is no longer considered a potential source of misery.
Some experts advise against using grill brushes, while others advise at least taking good care of them: clean the grill often to avoid buildup and then check for any remaining bristles. The other tip is to make sure you get rid of a grill brush if it shows signs of wear.
As for Richards, it was during a third procedure using live X-rays that the hair was successfully removed. The surgeon told him he had had a similar case where the patient’s esophagus was quite damaged.
After his surgeries, Richards went on a liquid diet, then switched to soft foods. He recovered well. But the Richards family no longer uses a wire brush to clean his grill. “Half an onion or half a potato works surprisingly well,” he says. A pumice stone leaves a bit of powder that can be wiped off. Recently, he’s been using a bamboo paddle to scrub the grill.
They all avoided surgery, pain and hospital bills.
Common Summer Dangers
Before you head out into the sun, there are a few other summer risks to keep in mind. Some of the most common include:
- Food poisoning Food poisoning is one of the biggest obstacles to summer fun. Improper hand washing, failure to clean cooking and eating areas, undercooking food, and leaving it out too long can all cause problems. In 90-degree weather, leaving food out for an hour may be too long. The Mayo Clinic says symptoms of food poisoning include stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, headache, and fever. In severe cases, food poisoning can affect the nervous system, so symptoms like blurred vision, loss of movement, and difficulty swallowing can be very serious.
- Extreme heat Heat can affect anyone, but children, the elderly, and people who are overweight or ill are especially at risk, according to Ready.gov. Signs of serious heat-related illness include an extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees Fahrenheit when taken orally); no sweating but red, hot, and dry skin; a rapid, pounding pulse; and dizziness, confusion, or loss of consciousness. Less serious signs that still require attention include muscle cramps, sweating, fatigue, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and fainting.
- Death by drowning Drowning cases are increasing in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 4,500 people died from drowning each year between 2020 and 2022. The CDC recommends that people get basic swimming and water safety training. More than half of adults in the United States have never taken swimming lessons. It’s also important to fence off pools so children can’t wander in; wear a life jacket when boating, regardless of swimming ability; never drink alcohol while swimming, boating, or doing other water activities or supervise children participating in these activities; and learn CPR, according to the CDC.
- Insect bites and stings Insect bites can ruin summer fun and are sometimes dangerous. Healthline says signs of an emergency include a rash, weak pulse, and anaphylactic shock. People who know they are allergic to insects like bees should keep their medications handy. Avoid West Nile virus by wearing long pants and sleeves and using insect repellent; stay indoors as much as possible from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are active. Serious reactions to insect bites that require medical attention include fever, difficulty breathing, nausea or vomiting, muscle spasms, rapid pulse, swelling of the lips and throat, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Most of the time, you can remove a stinger if it is lodged, wash the area, and apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling. Prevention includes wearing hats and clothing that covers you, wearing neutral colors, avoiding odors like perfume or lotion, covering food and drinks, and using insect repellents.
- Dehydration Dehydration is a significant loss of fluids, minerals, and salt. You can become dehydrated if you don’t replace the fluids you lose through sweating in very hot weather or when you do vigorous activity. Vomiting and diarrhea can also cause dehydration. Moderate or severe dehydration may require medical attention. Symptoms include thirst, dry or sticky mouth, headache, muscle cramps, low blood pressure, flushed skin, swollen feet, chills, not urinating, very dry skin, and dizziness, among others, according to WebMD. It’s important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, which can be a medical emergency. And be aware that children and older adults may not realize they’re thirsty or dehydrated.
- Injuries from fireworks Fireworks are common this time of year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported about 10,200 emergency room visits in the United States for fireworks-related injuries in 2022. More than a quarter were among children 15 and younger. The Cleveland Clinic recommends using only legal fireworks, and only where it’s legal and safe to do so, which means using them away from buildings, spectators, and bushes. It’s also essential to have water on hand to ensure they’re extinguished after use.