The barbecued chicken was probably the best Peter Richards ever tasted — a savory feast prepared by his wife Lindsey that even the kids were scarfing down. He joked with Greta, then 3, that if she didn’t eat the three cutlets she’d snagged, he would.
She gave him the third piece and he did exactly that, but as he swallowed it, he had the feeling he hadn’t chewed it enough. Only it felt more painful than that. Maybe it was a bone sliver, he thought, so he Googled how to get that to dislodge.
Eat a slice of bread. Swallow a banana. Nothing helped. Swallowing hurt enough that it kept waking him all night.
He told Deseret News the story a year after it happened.
In the morning, Richards, who runs an energy consulting firm and lives in Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, dropped the kids at school, then saw his doctor, who couldn’t find a reason for his pain and sent him to the emergency room for scans.
The culprit was clearly visible on X-ray: A thin piece of wire was lodged in his throat. It was a bristle from a metal brush used to clean the barbecue grill.
Richards would soon learn that his journey — including three surgeries in four days and a just-in-case feeding tube — isn’t that uncommon. A study in the journal Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery found that roughly 1,700 people visited an emergency room for just such an injury between 2002 and 2014. It’s believed likely that more bristles are swallowed but pass without causing harm. And sometimes people can retrieve it themselves.
Most of the injuries are to the mouth or throat. But the rigid metal bristles can actually perforate nearly any part of the digestive tract and cause life-threatening injuries, including bowel obstructions, perforations and infections.
Dr. Meghan Martin, a pediatric emergency medicine doctor at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, told Today about a case she treated: a little boy who was complaining of excruciating pain in his ear. It took several examinations by different doctors before it was discovered he had a piece of wire from a grill brush lodged so deeply into his tonsil tissue that an exam didn’t show it. That required a scan.
The symptoms may not even show up for a few days, well after a meal cooked on the grill is no longer top of mind as a potential source of misery.
Some experts suggest not using grill brushes; others say at the very least take great care: Clean the grill often so there’s no buildup and check after to be sure that there’s no bristle left behind. The other bit of advice is to be sure that you get rid of a grill brush if it shows any signs of wear.
As for Richards, it was in a third surgery using live X-rays as they went that the bristle was successfully removed. The surgeon told him he’d had a similar case where the patient’s esophagus was quite damaged.
After his operations, Richards was on a liquid diet, then graduated to soft foods. He’s now recovered well. But the Richards family doesn’t use a wire brush these days to clean their grill. “Half an onion or potato works amazingly well,” he said. A pumice stone leaves a little powder behind that can be wiped off. Recently, he’s used a bamboo paddle to scrape the grill.
They all beat surgery, pain and a hospital bill.
Common summer dangers
As you head into the sunshine, it’s a good idea to keep some other summer risks in mind. Among the most common:
- Food poisoning is one of the big spoilers of summer fun. Poor hand-washing, not cleaning cooking and eating areas, undercooking food and leaving food out for too long can all cause problems. In 90-degree weather, leaving food out for an hour can be too long. The Mayo Clinic says symptoms of food poisoning include upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, headaches and fever. In serious cases, food poisoning can affect the nervous system, so symptoms like blurred vision, loss of movement and trouble swallowing can be very serious.
- Extreme heat can affect anyone, but children, older adults and people who are overweight or sick are at particular risk, according to Ready.gov. Signs of severe heat-related illness include extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees Fahrenheit taken orally); not sweating but having skin that’s red, hot and dry; rapid pounding pulse; and dizziness, confusion or unconsciousness. Lesser signs, which still require attention, include muscle cramps, sweating, tiredness, weakness, nausea, vomiting and fainting.
- Drowning deaths are increasing across the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 4,500 people died from drowning every year between 2020 and 2022. The CDC recommends that people take basic swimming and water safety training. More than half of adults in the U.S. have not ever taken a swimming lesson. It’s also important to enclose pools with fencing so kids can’t wander in; wear a life jacket while boating regardless of swimming skills; never drink alcohol while swimming, boating or doing other water activities or while supervising kids participating in those activities; and learn CPR, per the CDC.
- Insect bites and stings can put a damper on summer fun — and sometimes they’re dangerous. Healthline says signs of an emergency include rash, low pulse and anaphylactic shock. People who know they are allergic to insects such as bees should keep their medication where it’s reachable. Avoid West Nile virus by wearing long pants and sleeves and using mosquito repellent; stay inside when possible from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are active. Severe reactions to insect bites or stings that require medical attention include fever, difficulty breathing, nausea or vomiting, muscle spasms, rapid pulse, swelling of lips and throat, confusion and loss of consciousness. Most of the time, you can remove a stinger if it’s lodged, wash the area and apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling. Prevention includes wearing hats and clothing that cover you, wearing neutral colors, avoiding scents like perfume or lotion, covering foods and drinks, and using insect repellents.
- Dehydration is severe loss of one’s fluid, minerals and salt. You can be dehydrated by not replacing liquids you sweat off in very hot weather or when doing strenuous activities. Vomiting and diarrhea can also cause dehydration. Moderate or severe dehydration both may require medical attention. According to WebMD, 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. 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 are thirsty or dehydrated.
- Firework injuries are common this time of year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission noted roughly 10,200 U.S. emergency room visits for firework-related injuries in 2022. More than a quarter were to children 15 and under. The Cleveland Clinic’s list of tips includes using only legal fireworks — and then only where it’s legal and safe, so use them far away from buildings, viewers and bushes. It’s vital to have water handy to make sure they’re out after they’re used, as well.
