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        riddles >> what happened >> Winter's breath 
        
(Message started by: Iceman on May 4th, 2007, 8:53am)
Title: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 4th, 2007, 8:53am


A boy fell and hit his head on a rock. If it weren't winter, he would've died. What happened?
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by SMQ on May 4th, 2007, 9:18am
He fell into a not-quite-frozen pond and hit his head on a rock on the bottom rendering him unconscious -- he drowned.  However, the very cold water caused his body to shut down from hypothermia, mitigating the effects of oxygen deprivation until help arrived.  (This phenomenon actually can be quite dramatic with winter drownings, especially with children, with successful resuscitation sometimes 20-to-30 minutes after the drowning occurred!)

--SMQ
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Grimbal on May 4th, 2007, 9:30am
He was rescued by Santa Claus himself.  ;D
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 4th, 2007, 12:10pm
Nope.




on 05/04/07 at 09:18:16, SMQ wrote:
He fell into a not-quite-frozen pond and hit his head on a rock on the bottom rendering him unconscious -- he drowned.  However, the very cold water caused his body to shut down from hypothermia, mitigating the effects of oxygen deprivation until help arrived.  (This phenomenon actually can be quite dramatic with winter drownings, especially with children, with successful resuscitation sometimes 20-to-30 minutes after the drowning occurred!)

--SMQ

Reminds me of a similar scene from the movie Abyss. Not bad, but the answer is not that extreme.  ;)
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Death on May 4th, 2007, 3:43pm
He slipped on a patch of ice - if he hadn't slipped he would have walked into the oncoming truck.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 4th, 2007, 3:44pm
..................nope.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Slartibartfast on May 4th, 2007, 5:15pm
Could it be as simple as the rock was covered in a thick layer of snow?
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 6th, 2007, 5:59am
I specified that he hit his head on the rock, not the thick layer of snow. So you see, I can't accept your answer.  ;)
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by denis on May 6th, 2007, 8:54am
The rock was near a snowmobile or ski trail which is only used in winter.

He was rescued by a snowmobiler or skier passing by.


Alternatively, he fell unconscious on top of the frozen lake which otherwise would have been liquid had it not been winter, in which case he would have drowned. He came to a few minutes later and went on his way.

Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 6th, 2007, 9:10am
Not bad. If there is an alternative answer, I suspect this is it. Although it is not what I am looking for. But keep thinking like that, and note that this riddle [hide]is a snack, so no need to go to deep analysis[/hide].   ;)
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Grimbal on May 6th, 2007, 11:18am

on 05/04/07 at 08:53:35, Iceman wrote:
A boy fell and hit his head on a rock. If it weren't winter, he would've died. What happened?

It's a snowman.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 6th, 2007, 11:24am
I like your answer, alas he's not snowman.  ;)
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by denis on May 6th, 2007, 11:26am
The boy was wearing a thick winter hat with lots of padding which softened the blow to his head.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 6th, 2007, 11:31am
Not bad, aside from the fact that it is a bit farfetched. He did hit head, quite badly.  

Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by denis on May 6th, 2007, 7:14pm
-the boy was able to eat snow to keep hydraded until he got rescued. If it was summer, he would have died of thirst.

-the bears, snakes, scorpions, black widow spiders and other deadly critters were either hybernating or were burrowed in their winter shelter. If it were summer, they would pounce on him.

-the boy was not able to get up but could throw snowballs at the passing cars thus getting their attention.

-the boy could not walk but could slide down the mountain side to safety on the snow surface. If it were summer, he would be stuck near the top of the mountain.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Grimbal on May 7th, 2007, 12:24am
It all happened in a ski resort.  In winter there are plenty of people skiing with mobile phones, and there is a well-trained rescue team eager to intervene.  In summer there is just the occasional wanderer, and as it happens he would have been the one who needs help.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 7th, 2007, 2:20am
The boy was unconscious. And it wasn't the ski resort.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Grimbal on May 7th, 2007, 2:45am
Would the death in non-winter have been a consequence of hitting the head on a stone?
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Grimbal on May 7th, 2007, 2:50am
A question of logic: When you say: "If it weren't winter, he would've died.", should we infer that it was winter and he did not die?
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Archae on May 7th, 2007, 4:19am
Because it was winter, it was cold enough to freeze the boy's blood from the wound.  So the blood froze and prevented him from bleeding to death, whereas such a blow in any other season would have killed him.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 7th, 2007, 5:26am

on 05/07/07 at 02:50:06, Grimbal wrote:
A question of logic: When you say: "If it weren't winter, he would've died.", should we infer that it was winter and he did not die?

Yep.



on 05/07/07 at 04:19:36, Archae wrote:
Because it was winter, it was cold enough to freeze the boy's blood from the wound.  So the blood froze and prevented him from bleeding to death, whereas such a blow in any other season would have killed him.

This is similar to what SMQ suggested. Not bad, but not the answer I am looking for.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by denis on May 7th, 2007, 8:00am
Ice, in your scenario, does the boy get rescued by someone else or does he get "saved" by some other means.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 7th, 2007, 8:04am
The former.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by denis on May 7th, 2007, 8:09am
Is the boy rescued because he is easier to spot with his colorfull winter clothing against the white snow background?
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 7th, 2007, 8:14am
Nope. That's not the case. This time I am dead set on the intended answer.  ;)
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by denis on May 7th, 2007, 8:37am
Did this happen in the urban/habited area or in a remote area.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 7th, 2007, 9:01am
Let's say secluded area.   :-/  8)
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by denis on May 7th, 2007, 9:32am
Did it happen is a forest?
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 7th, 2007, 9:43am
The forest? Most probably.   ;)
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by denis on May 7th, 2007, 9:55am
The trees in winter had no leaves so someone could spot the victim from the road. In summer, the lush trees would block the view.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 7th, 2007, 9:59am
Another fine idea, but it isn't great. :P



keep guessing riddlers
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by denis on May 7th, 2007, 11:05am
When he was late for lunch or school (or insert other activity here) they began a search. His rescuers found the boy by following his footprints in the snow.
Title: Re: Winter's breath
Post by Iceman on May 7th, 2007, 11:20am

on 05/07/07 at 11:05:05, denis wrote:
His rescuers found the boy by following his footprints in the snow.

You got it. 8) Des Pas sur la neige.


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