Water safety among Latino farmworkers in North Carolina.
Latinos constitute the vast majority of North Carolina's farmworker population. Drowning is a significant occupational health hazard in agriculture. Recent reports also suggest a disproportionate number of drowning victims in North Carolina are Latinos. Survey data are used to examine the levels of farmworker participation in aquatic activities and water safety behaviors. Over one-third of the farmworkers reported that they did not know how to swim. About one-quarter of the farmworkers reported participation in aquatic activities, with a greater percentage of those knowing how to swim participating in these activities. Recommendations to increase farmworker water safety include providing information through their employers and health outreach workers.
Arcury
Thomas A
TA
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
Quandt
Sara A
SA
Elmore
Rebecca C
RC
Russell
Gregory B
GB