A surge in heat-related illnesses ahead of Grand Kadooment on Monday has prompted a warning from the head of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP), Dr Lynda Williams, as high temperatures and dry conditions heighten risks for revellers and vulnerable people.

She has also asked people to look out for elderly relatives and friends at home, who are also at risk from the extreme heat even while inside the house.

Her warning comes as doctors report an increase in patients suffering from heat-related illnesses, against the backdrop of regional forecasts that excessive heat will remain a significant hazard throughout this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has cautioned that, despite expectations of a less active hurricane season, countries must prepare for the combined impacts of dangerous heat and dry conditions.