How many people die annually by choking on ballpoint pens?

[Jello]

I recently came across the line "On average, about 100 people die from choking on ballpoint pens every year." Like any good Cecil-educated human being, I tried to check the facts, and not surprisingly came up with a host of hits that all referenced the same list of trivia without regard to original source. So what's the truth? And how about vending machines, in case anyone can find definitive evidence on how many people those kill?

[Q.E.D.]

There's nothing about ball-point pen chokings here that I could find, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision has this (http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML96/96011.html) to say about vending machine fatalities:
In 1995, CPSC received reports of at least two consumers who died and one who was severely injured after the soda machines they were rocking fell on them. CPSC is aware of at least 37 deaths and 113 injuries since 1978 that have resulted from consumers rocking or tilting the machines in an attempt to obtain free soda or money.

[Starguard]

There's nothing about ball-point pen chokings here that I could find, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision has this (http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/PRHTML96/96011.html) to say about vending machine fatalities:


Now THIS is something that I can give personal testimony to. Back in the 80's while serving in the US Army in Germany this was a VERY big problem over there. Believe it or not, this was happening so often that out Batallion Commander devoted an entire batallion meeting to it. Why people would rather rock these huge 1 ton machines trying to tilt them thinking that they can hold them up with one arm while reaching up into the machine with the other, than simply pay the 50 cents required for a pop is beyond me.

This proble was so bad that he (the BC) gave the order that all of our machines be BOLTED DOWN TO THE FLOOR .

[plnnr]

I don't know about ballpoint pens (I'm assuming you mean on the tops, not the entire pen), but the Tennessee Williams, author of "Streetcar Named Desire," "Glass Menagerie," "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," and others, choked and died on a pill bottle cap. It is suspected that he was drunk (good assumption), couldn't get the top off and tried to pry it off with his teeth. Clunk - off it came, went down his throat and choked him to death.

[alterego]

This proble was so bad that he (the BC) gave the order that all of our machines be BOLTED DOWN TO THE FLOOR .

Coming from the Navy this doesn't sound so extreme, as everything must be 'secured for sea' anyway :P

[Jello]

Thanks for the information, Q.E.D.