Caroline County unveils "Otter Buckle Up" child passenger safety campaign

Presenter: A coalition of county agencies and volunteer groups unveiled "Otter Buckle Up," a child passenger‑safety campaign aimed at reducing injuries caused by unrestrained or improperly restrained children. The presenter said the campaign grew from a series of January 2025 crashes in northern Caroline County that produced preventable injuries ranging from broken bones to serious head trauma, and that local EMS and emergency department staff urged action.

The presenter said the coalition includes Caroline County Recreation and Parks, the Caroline County Health Department, Choptank Community Health, Caroline County Department of Emergency Services, the Department of Social Services, Greensboro Elementary School and Judy Center North County, and multiple volunteer fire companies. "We've trained and certified more than a dozen child passenger safety technicians who know how to install or help install and educate on installation of car seats," the presenter said, and described free car‑seat events and giveaways.

Jamie Vici, director of Caroline County Recreation and Parks (as introduced during the presentation), described the campaign's outreach tools: roadside signs designed for nighttime visibility, a county‑centric activity book for elementary students that will feature local parks and characters, a QR code for families to sign up for installation assistance, and planned drive‑through car‑seat checks at community locations. Vici said the program will seek additional grant funding to expand countywide rollout, and staff will hold a public naming contest for the otter mascot via social media.

Commissioners asked whether law enforcement routinely checks car‑seat installation during traffic stops. The presenter said that enforcement varies and suggested staff will ask the sheriff for the department's current approach; health partners noted that hospitals and Judy Centers provide well‑visit reminders and that families can access installation help through the campaign.

Organizers framed the effort as low‑cost, locally tailored education and service delivery; they thanked the Caroline Foundation and the health department for grant support that helped launch the initiative. The presenter said the coalition's goal is simple: "You have to use the right car seat for your kid, and you have to use it every time." The campaign expects to place signage at schools, parks, athletic fields and health offices across the county.

Next steps: staff will continue outreach, schedule car‑seat events and pursue additional grant funds to sustain and expand the program.