Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion (W74) ICD-10-CM
The W74 code range covers unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion with 4 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 3 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
- Drowning NOS
7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code W74
7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
Codes in the W74 Range 4 codes · 3 billable
- W74 Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersionNon-billable
- W74.XXXA Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion, initial encounter
- W74.XXXD Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion, subsequent encounter
- W74.XXXS Unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion, sequela
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the W74 range.
Drowning
Death that occurs as a result of anoxia or heart arrest, associated with immersion in liquid.
Epilepsy, Reflex
A subtype of epilepsy characterized by seizures that are consistently provoked by a certain specific stimulus. Auditory, visual, and somatosensory stimuli as well as the acts of writing, reading, eating, and decision making are examples of events or activities that may induce seizure activity in affected individuals. (From Neurol Clin 1994 Feb;12(1):57-8)
Immersion
The placing of a body or a part thereof into a liquid.
Immersion Foot
A condition of the feet produced by prolonged exposure of the feet to water. Exposure for 48 hours or more to warm water causes tropical immersion foot or warm-water immersion foot common in Vietnam where troops were exposed to prolonged or repeated wading in paddy fields or streams. Trench foot results from prolonged exposure to cold, without actual freezing. It was common in trench warfare during World War I, when soldiers stood, sometimes for hours, in trenches with a few inches of cold water in them. (Andrews' Diseases of the Skin, 8th ed, p27)
Near Drowning
Non-fatal immersion or submersion in water. The subject is resuscitable.
About the W74 Code Range
The ICD-10 code W74 covers incidents of accidental drowning and submersion where the specific cause is not identified. These codes are used to classify injuries or medical encounters related to drowning events without a clear or specified reason.
The section includes three key variations: W74.XXXA for the initial encounter, W74.XXXD for subsequent encounters, and W74.XXXS for sequela, or late effects, following the drowning incident. Commonly referred to terms like "dry drowning," "immersion accident," or "aspiration pneumonitis due to near drowning" all fall under this code family. Medical coders use these codes when the drowning or submersion was accidental but the cause remains unspecified, whether during recreation, work, or rescue attempts. If you need to identify the ICD-10 code for accidental drowning without a known cause, this W74 category accurately captures such cases for proper documentation and treatment planning.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the W74 range?
Of the 4 codes in this range, 3 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the W74 range classify?
The range classifies unspecified cause of accidental drowning and submersion. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
