Assault by drowning and submersion in natural water, init

This code signifies an injury resulting from an intentional act of drowning or submersion in a natural body of water, such as a lake, river, or ocean. The injury is inflicted by another person with the intent to harm or kill the victim. This code specifically applies to the initial treatment for such an event.

Apply this code when documenting the first encounter for a patient who has been a victim of an assault involving forced submersion or drowning in natural water. This includes cases where the patient is rescued and receives immediate medical attention for injuries sustained during the assault. It would also be used for initial evaluations following such an event, even if the patient presents without obvious physical injury but requires assessment due to the nature of the incident.

• Ensure documentation clearly states the incident was an assault and occurred in a natural body of water.
• Always assign external cause codes in conjunction with an injury code describing the specific effects of the drowning or submersion (e.g., anoxia, aspiration pneumonia).
• The "A" in the seventh character indicates an initial encounter, meaning the patient is receiving active treatment for the condition.