BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The United Farm Workers Union is calling on all grape growers across the state to voluntarily improve safety procedures in the wake of a heat-related death last week, KERO reported.

Asuncion Valdivia, 53, died at Kern Medical Center last Wednesday after he became dizzy and weak while picking grapes for Giumarra Vineyards, located south of Arvin.

The UFW is considering legal action on behalf of the family, and will seek legislative help to further improve farm workers' rights.

But there is a great deal of conflicting information as to what actually took place in the vineyard moments after Valdivia collapsed. The UFW believes miscommunication may have cost Valdivia his life.

Through an interpretator, Luis Angel Valdivia talked to KERO about his father's death. He said his father laid down in the field and water was applied to his head, but there was no reaction. An ambulance was called but then it was told not to come. Luis Valdivia said a foreman instructed him to drive his father home.

Valdivia said while he was driving his father home, he decided to take him to the hospital after he vomited.

Arturo Rodriguez, the UFW president, said, "The foreman, Ramon Mena, told Luis to take his father home and put on air conditioning. I don't think he's a doctor and knew the situation that was occurring."

Doug Johnston with the Kern County Fire Department said a call was received from a woman on a cell phone. He said she asked for help, but they didn't know where they were. Johnston said the dispatcher tried for about 45 seconds to get a location, but then the woman told the dispatcher the man was feeling OK. The dispatcher still attempted to get a location, but then the phone was disconnected.

Rodriguez said the foreman made the call and then called back to cancel it.

The dispatcher reportedly called back the phone, which had a 559 area code, twice. He finally got a man who transferred the phone back to the woman. She then said that someone was taking the victim to the hospital.

Johnston said an ambulance was never dispatched and no farm supervisor ever picked up the phone.

Valdivia's body temperature was 108 degrees when he arrived to KMC, where he was pronounced dead.

The UFW said it has received numerous complaints all across state but don't know of any other deaths.

The union is asking all vineyards to do three things:

Have a system in place for emergencies.
Train foremen to follow laws.
Always have cool, clean drinking water.