ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The record heat wave is keeping metro Atlanta firefighters and paramedics busy responding to calls related to heat exhaustion.
Atlanta Firefighter Nick Golden, who's also an emergency medical technician for Grady Memorial Hospital, said he's responded to a number of calls lately from people who report feeling dizzy, even as they try to beat the heat by staying indoors.
"Just walking in the room, you can tell it's probably 85 or 90 degrees," said Golden. "The air conditioning hasn't been working. They don't have fans that are working. And I ask, 'What have you been drinking today?' And they say something like, 'I had a couple of sweet teas,' or 'I've been drinking 24 oz. beers all day.' I'll say, 'Well, any water in there? Have you eaten anything?' 'Nope.'"
Atlanta fire stations are inviting people inside for a free bottle of water and an opportunity to cool off in their air-conditioned gathering rooms.
"We stay ready," Golden said. "We never mind letting someone come in and cool down in the air conditioning and passing out a little water."
As dry as it's been, firefighters also worry about the handling of fireworks during this Fourth of July week.
"You've got to use common sense when playing with fireworks," said Golden. "Whatever goes up is going to come down eventually, so if it lands in a pile of dry leaves or pine straw, the next thing you know, a small brush fire turns into a big brush fire that goes to your house."
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