Unconscious + breathing

[ChadStrohl]

Originally Posted by SundownInRetreat

- like I accept reversing the earth's rotation reverses time in Superman, even though it's hokum - or would you shout WTF?

Oh yeah. I still shout WTF!!! on that part.

But as far as your story. I personally wouldn't have a problem with it.

Oh sure. There's gonna be some doctor in the fifth row that sees it and says, "Pshah! That's not how that would be." He'll glance around to see who gives a rat's @ss. Nobody will. One person will at least give him the stink eye. And then it's back to watching your story.

[ComicBent]

I cannot give you a definite answer, but I think it would depend on the level of unconsciousness. Look up the Glasgow Coma Scale and see if it helps you.

I think the person would have to be in a pretty deep coma not to respond, but, as I said, I do not really know for sure. Not the kind of thing that we normally deal with in medicine.

[The lady green]

Something I know is very dangerous and have killed a lot of people is swallowing your own tongue when knocked unconscious, just because you suffocate, so I don't think the body necessarily fight asphyxiation when unconscious.

Jesus, I struggle with spelling in my own language and I'm not a native English speaker. This text tested me so hope I get my point across

add:

And don't forget that you are supposed to put unconscious people in the recovery position to stop them from suffocating

[DavidK]

Originally Posted by The lady green

Something I know is very dangerous and have killed a lot of people is swallowing your own tongue when knocked unconscious, just because you suffocate, so I don't think the body necessarily fight asphyxiation when unconscious.

This is complete urban myth. It is impossible to swallow your own tongue; it does not happen.

What can happen is that if an unconscious person is lying on their back, and the gag/cough reflex is diminished or absent, the tongue falls against the back of the mouth - pharynx - and obstructs the air passage. The lack of reflex means the person can't clear their own airway and they can asphyxiate.

Similarly, returning to the OP, if a person is unconscious and unresponsive and reflexes are sufficiently diminished, they will not fight or struggle if their mouth and nose are held closed. They will asphyxiate. However there will be evidence of this at autopsy and you won't get away with it unless you have a really good alibi, which I could provide at reasonable cost.

[The lady green]

Originally Posted by DavidK

This is complete urban myth. It is impossible to swallow your own tongue; it does not happen.

I don't think anyone believe that people are actually swallowing their tongues. It's the expression people use for when the tongue falls back and block the airways.

Its like you would call me out for saying that I'm still searching for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

The point is that asphyxiation is one of the most serious threats to unconscious people, so it should be possible to do what the poster wants.

[mge457]

Make the character unconscious and you can do just about anything. People can drown in 2 inches of water.

-former Fire/Rescue/EMS provider

[Colin Holmes]

How was the victim rendered unconscious? Medically? Violently? I think that might enter into the believability of the lack of response.

If they were somehow rendered in a state of paralysis then you could have eyes flutter open to recognize the killer but not be able to make a sound.

Trapped in your own body would be a terrifying way to go.