# You suddenly die right now. What's the (potentially) longest time before someone finds your body? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 9, 2015, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648 "2015-07-09T08:33:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Antene1941](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Antene1941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antene1941)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/101 "2015-07-15T19:22:38Z")
Hmmm… let me think. At home, about 30 minutes to 2 hours. At university, anything from 5 minutes to a few hours At weekends, instantly. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/102 "2015-07-15T19:38:21Z")
Right now? Pretty much instantly. I’m sitting at a table in a college break room next to two other people. They’re pretty engrossed in their computer games, but I’m pretty sure they’d notice. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/103 "2015-07-16T17:08:56Z")
Hmmm. I’m married, with 2 adult kids, and an adult friend renting the basement. The kids have been trained not to disturb me, so I’d say 12 hours at the outside because of the husband. If my husband were away, it could be a day or so before someone checked on me in the bedroom. I actually had that worry a few years back. Husband and son were away overnight camping. Daughter (then 14 or so) had been well-trained not to bug me on the weekends. I was feeling pretty wretched all evening, and went into the bathroom (ensuite to master bedroom, TV on and making noise) to see if digestive issues were at fault. Within a minute of sitting down, the room started graying out and I nearly collapsed. As the room went dark, all I could think of was that my husband was going to come home to find me dead on the floor the next evening. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/104 "2015-07-16T23:47:17Z")
I have a houseful of people and dogs. Unless I died in my sleep, it would be a matter of seconds to minutes. And even if I died in my sleep? My husband is the sort who, if I’m sleeping deeply, checks on me to make sure I’m still breathing. Both comforting and annoying when I have a migraine that I’m trying to sleep off! And “my” dog - the Pyrenees - would probably alert if something were terribly wrong with me when I seem to be asleep. She’s the one who knows when I’m feeling bad, and lays at my feet on the bed if I’m sick, until I’m feeling better. She doesn’t get on the bed unless I’m sick. It’s the damnedest thing, because she’s otherwise as dumb as a post, but by golly she’s a good guardian for a sick mama. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/105 "2015-11-01T17:40:51Z")
Instantly, as I’m sitting in the car next to Mom at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/106 "2015-11-01T19:27:24Z")
A few hours, at the longest. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/107 "2015-11-01T21:56:05Z")
Despite them living around the corner, my family probably wouldn’t investigate for a week or more. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/108 "2015-11-01T22:59:02Z")
Depends on how long before someone else decides the dog needs to go outside. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/109 "2015-11-01T23:20:58Z")
Right this moment? I’m going to be going out to eat with my mom and uncle in about a half-hour. They’d call my phone, and if I didn’t pick up, would probably assume my battery died. Then they’d stand outside my window and yell. When that didn’t work, I’m not sure how long it would take them to call the police. At some other time? I teach a class every Tuesday and Thursday evening, and I see Mom every Friday evening and Sunday morning, so that’s when I’d be noticed missing. Mom also calls sporadically every few days or so, but the first missed call would probably be assumed to be a dead battery, or that I didn’t hear it ringing and didn’t notice the missed call, or the like. I don’t know if my students would raise any sort of alarm, though, so it would probably be either the next Friday or Sunday, or when Mom couldn’t get through on the phone twice in a row. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/110 "2015-11-02T02:49:16Z")
At least 3 days, if I don’t pay my rent by the 10th someone may check on me if not before then. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/111 "2015-11-02T03:58:46Z")
My wife has already gone up to bed, so 6-7 hours. Unless my daughter the night owl comes in before she goes to bed, to see why the light is still on in this room. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/112 "2015-11-02T04:12:02Z")
My husband is out of town for a couple of days. My daughter never comes into my bedroom, and isn’t planning on doing something with me for a couple of day. Hmm. I am expected at work tomorrow morning, but I doubt they would call the cops or anything if I failed to show up. So maybe 2 days. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/113 "2015-11-05T14:07:16Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Instantly, as I’m sitting in the car next to Mom at the moment. Put the phone away and pay attention to your driving, or it’ll be an issue a lot sooner than you hoped!! ;). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/114 "2015-11-05T16:14:24Z")
2 1/2 months. Or is it a zombie? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/115 "2015-11-07T09:23:00Z")
Right now, since in a hospital with a temperature of 103, probably not long. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/116 "2015-11-07T14:17:07Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Right now, since in a hospital with a temperature of 103, probably not long. [QUOTE=Foreigner] Well, I’m hot blooded, check it and see I got a fever of a hundred and three Come on baby, do you do more than dance? I’m hot blooded, I’m hot blooded [/QUOTE] Get well soon. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/117 "2015-11-07T19:53:03Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Instantly, as I’m sitting in the car next to Mom at the moment. > [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Put the phone away and pay attention to your driving, or it’ll be an issue a lot sooner than you hoped!! ;). Maybe Mom is driving. In my case, two to three days, I guess. I live alone and the neighbors might notice if I don’t walk the dogs for a day or two. Two houses down, an elderly woman (even older than me!) was found dead on her kitchen floor when a neighbor noticed that she hadn’t been seen for a few days and went over and peeked in the window. ---
**Author:** ![TheSpeculationElucidation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@TheSpeculationElucidation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSpeculationElucidation)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/118 "2015-11-09T08:04:59Z")
I’m at work (I’m a caregiver) but my clients are asleep. 6 hours at the most (at shift change). ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/119 "2015-11-09T13:45:34Z")
> [@Mama Zappa](#): > > Put the phone away and pay attention to your driving, or it’ll be an issue a lot sooner than you hoped!! 😉 > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Maybe Mom is driving. :::::faint sound of whooshing overhead::::: 😃 > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > …Two houses down, an elderly woman (even older than me!) was found dead on her kitchen floor when a neighbor noticed that she hadn’t been seen for a few days and went over and peeked in the window. There are actually programs (proposed or perhaps actually in place) for letter carriers to keep an eye out for patterns that suggest the resident might be in trouble. > **[USPS and National Association of Letter Carriers - Carrier Alert Program |...](https://www.programsforelderly.com/safety-carrier-alert-usps.php)** > > Due to their regular, daily presence USPS letter carriers watch for signs that something is out of the ordinary with an elderly or disabled person living alone. The USPS mail carrier may be the only point of human contact for home-bound elderly and... ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648/120 "2015-11-09T20:01:29Z")
Probably 10, 15 minutes at the outside, since I’m sitting at a desk in the public library. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-suddenly-die-right-now-whats-the-potentially-longest-time-before-someone-finds-your-body/724648.md?page=7)