Back in 1992, amidst numerous family scandals and loss, Queen Elizabeth II called it her “annus horribilis,” a Latin phrase meaning “horrible year.”
I think it’s safe to say we’re undergoing our own “annus horribilis.” It’s been an awful few months in terms of natural and man-made disasters.
First, the man-made: Two acts of horrific violence. In mid-August, a terrorist drove a van into the pedestrians of Barcelona, killing one of our own in the pool and spa industry, Jared Tucker. Our entire AI family sends our deepest condolences to Dan Tucker, Jared’s father and owner of Chlorine Genie, along with Jared’s wife, children and other family members as they grieve over what is truly an unimaginable loss. The second and most recent incident, in which a killer sent a barrage of bullets into an innocent Las Vegas crowd, has sent our country into deep mourning.
In between the two events, we’ve felt the full blast of Mother Nature’s fury with three catastrophic hurricanes in quick succession: Harvey, Irma and Maria. Harvey slammed into the Houston area, with record-breaking rain flooding countless thousands of people. Irma pummelled Florida into varying states of destruction. And Maria decimated Puerto Rico, where rescue efforts are still ongoing and state officials are working to restore infrastructure, such as electricity, as quickly as possible.
All of these areas are dealing with the monumental aftereffects of the storm surge. Public health concerns are high as toxic sludge consisting of raw sewage water and mold grow in the stifling heat, putting people at risk of contracting deadly infections. And that’s just the beginning. Rebuilding their homes — and lives — will be a long and arduous process.
My heart aches for all those affected by these disasters. Annus horribilis, indeed.
Smaller disasters specific to our industry involve a number of chemical incidents at aquatics facilities over the summer. Patrons suffered chemical burns, respiratory problems, nausea and stomach discomfort from exposure to chlorine gas.
But I’m an optimist. Knowing the aquatics community as I do, I’m confident that we will rally to help, not only our own, but as many people as is in our power to help. I know many lifeguards have stepped up to the task, many traveling to Texas and Florida to volunteer their time and skills. And a few waterparks have begun fundraising efforts for hurricane victims. I’m sure we’ll be hearing many such heartening stories in the days to come.
And while there’s only so much one can do to help with these disasters, one thing that’s definitely in our power to do here at AI is to help aquatics facilities minimize their risk of the aforementioned chemical incidents. In Dana Robinson’s feature, “Splash Guard,” she explains the hazards and causes of such incidents, and concentrates on prevention, offering suggestions and solutions.
