Too Hot To Handle

Francine Brock, 50, does anything she can to stay cool.

"Sometimes I'll go and catch a bus and sit at the mall," she says.

Brock doesn't have an air conditioner in her home, just a small fan sitting on a table.

"You know it just exhausts you. It drains you," says Brock, as sweat drips down her face.

Officials at the Prichard fire department fear there are plenty more people dealing with the same situation.

Latoya Veal, a spokesperson for the city, says that's why the fire department is continuing Operation Roll Call, a free service to elderly and disabled residents.

The program started two years ago after fire fighters and paramedics were finding people who had become ill, but not discovered for several days.

An employee at the fire department runs through a list of 48 residents every morning, calling each of them to make sure they're okay.

If someone on the list can't be reached, a fire fighter goes to their home to check on them.

As the temperature continues to rise, so does the risk of heat related illness. To sign up for the program call 452-7817.