Author: Courtney Glancy
Published on: 06/19/2026
Categories: Heat Illness, Resource, Safety & Health
Heat Safety for Florida’s Farmworkers: What the Science, and the Fields, Tell Us
Florida’s farmworkers do some of the hardest work in the state outdoors, in the heat, every day. That work comes with real risks. Heat illness is one of the most serious, and one of the most preventable.
This past spring, TREEO’s Safety & Health Instructor, Cindy Mercado, was invited to take part in Ag Safety Day, a collaborative event organized by a dedicated planning committee of UF/IFAS Extension agents from across the region. Cindy delivered Heat Stress training in Spanish alongside Dr. John Diaz, who led the same training in English.
If you’ve been following this campaign, Dr. Diaz is a familiar face, he was also featured in our TREEO Talk on Heat Stress, where he broke down the science of heat safety for outdoor workers. Together, they made sure that all 110 attendees (farmworkers, farmers, and supervisors from Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto, and Manatee Counties) got the same life-saving information, side by side, in the language they work in every day.
Image from Ag Safety Day provided by Jonael Bosques of UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County
Jonael Bosques, Agriculture Agent and County Extension Director for UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County, helped bring this event together. He put it simply:
“Farm workers work under tough conditions. This occupation is extremely dangerous, and work-related injuries are often under-reported and thus overlooked. Spanish-speaking farm labor comprises the majority of the labor force, and usually lack the necessary information to make sound decisions on how and why they should protect themselves from the elements. If we don’t train them, they will never be able to adequately protect themselves from the environmental effects experienced in Florida.”
Image from Ag Safety Day provided by Kati Lawson of UF/IFAS Extension Highlands County
That’s exactly why events like Ag Safety Day matter and why bilingual training isn’t optional. It’s the difference between information reaching people and information missing them entirely.
Kati Lawson, County Extension Director and 4-H Agent for UF/IFAS Highlands County, was part of the same collaborative effort. She framed it this way:
“It is important for well-known establishments like the University of Florida to set an example for other operations and organizations that safety and training are worth the investment — because people are the heart of agriculture. We need to provide for our people who contribute to a system that provides food for all.”
Kati also shared that their Extension team is grateful to Cindy for expanding the education and opportunities they were able to provide at the event, a sentiment that reflects exactly what this kind of partnership is meant to do.
The Results Speak for Themselves
After the event, participants were asked: “Do you feel better prepared to complete your work with greater safety?”
Of the 94 people who responded, 88 said YES. That’s 94% of respondents walking away feeling more prepared. After Cindy’s training on Heat Stress, one Spanish-speaking participant’s feedback said, “Great information about beverages that aren’t good for preventing heat stress.”
It’s a simple statement, but it tells you something important: people were learning things they didn’t know before. And that knowledge can keep someone safe or even save their life.
Images from Ag Safety Day provided by Jonael Bosques of UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County
The Science Behind the Safety
Cindy and Dr. Diaz covered a lot of ground in their presentation, but for farmworkers spending long hours in Florida’s heat, two topics stood out as especially critical: electrolytes and caffeine. Here’s what the science says, and why it matters in the field.
The Danger You Can’t Always See
Here’s something that surprises a lot of people: working in the heat can damage your body even when you feel fine. “Working dehydrated can permanently damage your kidneys, even if you don’t feel sick,” said Dr. Diaz.
A study done right here in Florida found that 1 in 3 farmworkers had a temporary kidney injury during at least one workday. When that happens again and again, season after season, it can lead to something called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). That’s a permanent condition that can end your ability to work and cause serious health problems for the rest of your life.
The scary part? There are often no warning signs until the damage is already done. The good news: staying hydrated every single day is how you protect yourself.
Water Is Not Enough on Its Own
Drinking water is critical. But when you’re sweating hard all day, your body loses more than just water. It loses electrolytes, the minerals your body needs to work properly.
“Electrolytes are really some of the essential elements that help your body function, especially your kidney,” said Dr. Diaz. “As soon as your electrolyte balances are off, your body starts to act different and it impedes your body’s ability to protect itself from heat.”
The main electrolytes your body needs are:
- Sodium: helps your body hold water and replaces what you lose in sweat
- Potassium: prevents muscle cramps and supports your heart
- Magnesium: helps your muscles relax and recover
- Calcium: supports your muscles and nerves
- Chloride: works with sodium to keep your fluid balance stable
You lose these through sweat. You need to replace them throughout your entire shift, not just at the end of the day.
Not Every Sports Drink Is Good for You
Walk into any gas station or corner store and you’ll see rows of brightly colored sports drinks. They look like they’re made for hard workers. But Dr. Diaz had an important warning:
“One of the things you want to be cognizant of with these electrolyte drinks is the sugar content. There are some of these drinks that their sugar content likens a sugary beverage like Coca-Cola or Pepsi… take a look at the actual content of electrolytes and make sure that it is actually creating replenishment of electrolytes and it’s not something that just tastes good.”
Many popular sports drinks are made to taste good, not to actually rehydrate you. High sugar content can actually slow down how fast your body absorbs the drink.
When you pick up a drink, check the label for:
- Sodium: Look for a meaningful amount (not just “trace”). For hard physical work in the heat, higher sodium helps you rehydrate faster.
- Potassium: Important for cramp prevention and heart health.
- Magnesium: Helps with muscle recovery.
- Sugar: Lower is better. Try to stay under 6–8 grams per serving if possible. Zero sugar options are even better.
You Can Also Eat Your Electrolytes
Dr. Diaz reminded workers that food counts too. Having a plan for electrolyte-rich options at meals and snack breaks is just as important as what you drink.
Some of the best natural sources include:
- Bananas: potassium
- Watermelon & oranges: potassium, magnesium, and extra water
- Avocados: potassium and magnesium
- Spinach and leafy greens: magnesium and calcium
- Nuts: magnesium
- Dairy (milk, yogurt): calcium and sodium
If you eat a snack or meal during your break, choosing foods like these is a simple way to help your body stay in balance.
Be Careful With Energy Drinks and Caffeine
Energy drinks are popular on early morning shifts. But there’s something important to know before you crack one open in the heat: Caffeine is a major culprit of dehydration.
Caffeine makes you feel more awake, but it doesn’t actually give you more energy. It works by blocking the signal in your brain that tells you you’re tired. It also makes you lose more fluid, and it can hide your thirst so you don’t realize how dehydrated you’re getting.
Many energy drink cans have 150–300mg of caffeine and some cans count as two servings.
If you drink caffeine during a hot shift:
- Drink a full glass of water with it
- Watch for signs like jitters, a fast heartbeat, or feeling shaky. These are signs you’ve had too much.
- Make sure you’re also replacing electrolytes throughout the day
Simple Tips to Stay Safe
Whether you’re a worker in the field or a supervisor managing a crew, these basics make a real difference:
For workers:
- Drink water and electrolytes, don’t wait until you’re thirsty
- Eat foods that are naturally rich in electrolytes during breaks
- Read drink labels: check the sodium content and the sugar content
- Tell someone early if you feel dizzy, get a headache, or stop sweating
- Be careful with energy drinks and caffeine in the heat
For employers:
- Provide water and electrolyte options, not just water
- Offer training in Spanish for Spanish-speaking workers
- Make it safe and easy for workers to report symptoms early
- Schedule the hardest work for cooler parts of the day when possible
This Is Just the Beginning
The impact of Ag Safety Day has already opened new doors. Jonael and the UF/IFAS team are planning to expand this kind of training to more counties and communities across Florida, with hopes to hold a similar program in the fall. If you are in Highlands, Hardee, DeSoto, Manatee — or anywhere in Florida — and want to bring this training to your area, now is the time to get connected.
Follow UF/IFAS Extensions Hardee County & Highlands County on Facebook to stay up to date on upcoming programs and events in the area.
At UF TREEO, we are proud to grow partnerships with units across Florida who are committed to educating and protecting their communities. If your county is ready to have this conversation, so are we.
Images from Ag Safety Day provided by Jonael Bosques of UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County
Want to bring Heat Stress training to your worksite or county? Contact Melissa Hamilton at melissajhamilton@treeo.ufl.edu to learn more about available resources and partnership opportunities.
This post references research presented by Dr. John Diaz at the TREEO Talk: Heat Stress. The “1 in 3 farmworkers” statistic is drawn from Dr. Diaz’s presentation materials. Participant feedback and survey data were collected by UF/IFAS following Ag Safety Day, a collaborative event organized by the Ag Safety Day Planning Committee: John Diaz (Evaluation Specialist, UF/IFAS Extension), Kati Lawson (County Extension Coordinator, UF/IFAS Extension Highlands County), Alissa Hevesh (Agriculture Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Highlands County), Luis Rodriguez (Small Farms Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County), Edwin Gutierrez (Citrus Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Highlands County), and Jonael Bosques (Agriculture Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hardee County). Heat Stress training was provided by TREEO’s Cindy Mercado and Dr. John Diaz at the invitation of UF/IFAS.