Thinking about the unthinkable.(From The Editor)(Editorial)

Suction entrapment is one of those subjects few of us like to think about. Though it happens more rarely than drownings, it is no less deadly and far more violent in the way it takes its victims.

We've all heard harrowing stories about victims getting trapped on a drain and drowning despite the repeated efforts of rescuers to pull them free. There are also less-mentioned accounts of unsuspecting swimmers suddenly and violently being eviscerated. Needless to say, however it happens, an entrapment death or injury leaves a black mark on a facility that is difficult, if not impossible, to erase. Often, that mark includes a costly lawsuit.

It was with all of those issues in mind that Aquatics International set out to explore suction entrapment in depth.

To be sure, most aquatics professionals already know about suction entrapment and its dangers. But much has changed in the last several years that you may not be aware of. Manufacturers are making new and better layers of protection to guard against entrapment. Meanwhile, traditional pool design is being rethought. Dual main drains are one solution being advocated, as are so-called drainless pools, though they have not yet gained wide ...