News Crime & Safety

Over 50 People Suffer Heat Exhaustion at J’ouvert Festival in Lauderhill

by Ryan Yousefi October 8, 2023

2Shares

Over 50 People Suffer Heat Exhaustion at J’ouvert Festival in Lauderhill

{Lauderhill Fire Rescue}

By Ryan Yousefi

Multiple festival-goers at the annual J’ouvert Festival in Lauderhill experienced heat exhaustion on Saturday, prompting emergency response efforts from local officials.

According to multiple reports, eventgoers began falling ill around 2 p.m., which promoted a response by Lauderhill Fire Rescue, which started to treat numerous individuals showing signs of heat exhaustion, potentially exacerbated by alcohol consumption, according to Broward County Regional Communications’ dispatch.

Paramedics and police had already been stationed at the festival to ensure attendees’ safety, but the rising number of people falling ill posed a significant challenge. The J’ouvert Festival, a celebration of Caribbean culture, taking place this year at Central Broward Regional Park, reportedly experienced a larger crowd, partially attributed to the issues.

As of Saturday night, over 50 individuals were evaluated by paramedics, with 23 of them requiring hospitalization.

Those needing medical attention were transported to nearby healthcare facilities, including Florida Medical Center, Broward Health Medical Center, Westside Regional Free Standing Emergency Room, and Westside Regional Hospital.

Despite South Florida not being under official heat advisories or warnings, the heat index at the time of the incident was hovering around 95 degrees, with daytime temperatures reaching 90 degrees.

The J’ouvert Festival is part of the more extensive Miami Carnival series of festivities celebrating Caribbean culture.

Got News? Send it to Tamarac Talk. Don’t miss reading Margate Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, and Parkland Talk.

Author Profile

Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.