⚠️ Important Service Updates ⚠️
The Caroline County Health Department is now processing birth and death certificates by appointment only on Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays from 8:30–11:30 AM and 1:00–3:00 PM. Walk-ins will be given the next available appointment and may need to wait or return later, depending on availability.
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Please be aware that we will be unable to process Birth & Death Certificates from September 4 through October 2.
Certificates may be ordered at nearby health departments or online. Learn more.

Drowning Prevention

Child drawing with colored pencils

Join the Art Contest!

Caroline County kids aged 5 – 18 are invited to participate in our monthly Drowning Prevention Art Contest. Monthly prizes include a $100 Walmart gift card. The grand prize is a $1,500 gift card for participating Sun Outdoors resorts!

5 Layers of Protection

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance has established five layers of protection to prevent drowning. Using these layers of protection will help keep your family safe!

Graphic of a fence with a lock against a blue circular background

Barriers & Alarms

It’s important to use four-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates, pool safety covers, and alarm systems, to help prevent children and unauthorized adults from accessing water unsupervised.

Graphic of an eye against a blue circular background

Supervision

Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings with close, constant, and capable adult supervision from a designated water watcher or lifeguard anytime children are in or around water.

Graphic of a stick figure swimming and a check mark against a blue circular background

Water Competency

Every child and adult should be equipped with the skills to protect themselves in water by learning and enhancing their basic water safety skills to reduce the risk of drowning and aquatic-related injuries.

Graphic of a life vest against a blue circular background

Life Jackets

When used appropriately, life jackets protect you when you are not expecting to be in the water, especially around open water. Ensure your life jackets are tested & approved by the USCG.

Graphic of a heart with a P-wave heart beat line against a blue circular background

Emergency Preparation

Knowing how to prepare for an emergency with CPR training with rescue breaths and basic water rescue skills can make the difference between life and death. Have a phone available and ready to call 911.

Graphic of a number '5' against a blue circular background

Learn More About the 5 Layers

Water Safety Resources
Drowning Prevention Art Contest

Prizes

Monthly Prizes

One prize of a $100 Walmart gift card will be awarded each month during the contest.

All children who submit eligible entries will be automatically entered for the monthly prize drawing. Children may submit multiple artworks, but each child will be entered into the monthly drawing only once.

Grand Prize Sweepstakes

One grand prize of a $1,500 Sun Outdoors gift card will be awarded at the end of the contest.

Each child who submits a valid entry during the contest will be automatically entered for the Grand Prize. Each child may receive one entry for each month of the contest in which they submitted a valid entry (for a maximum of five entries per child).

How to Enter

The contest is open to children aged 5 – 18 who live in Caroline County, Maryland.

  1. The child must create an original piece of artwork inspired by the month’s theme.
  2. The child’s parent or legal guardian must:
    • Take a photo of the artwork, and
    • Share the photo with us! There are three ways to share your photo:
      • Post the photo in the comment thread of the designated monthly contest post on the Caroline County Health Department Facebook page (this option does not work for some mobile users), OR
      • Send the photo via direct message (DM) to our Facebook account, OR
      • Email the photo to carolinewatersafety@gmail.com
      • Photos sent to us via DM or email will be posted by CCHD staff in the comment thread of the designated monthly contest post
  3. The comment or message content accompanying the photo must include:
    • The first name of the child, and
    • The child’s age

Monthly Themes

APRIL – Barriers & Alarms

MAY – Supervision

JUNE – Water Competency

JULY – Life Jackets

AUGUST – Emergency Preparation

No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Contest Rules

Artwork Requirements

Eligible artwork must meet the following criteria:

  • Must be original artwork created by the child participant
  • May not include the use of AI-generated art
  • Must align with the monthly drowning prevention theme
  • May be created in any medium, including but not limited to drawing, painting, sculpture, digital artwork, mixed media
  • Must NOT include:
    • Brand logos or trademarks
    • Vulgar, obscene, or indecent content
    • Political messaging
    • References to real people or events

Entries that violate these rules may be removed from the Facebook comment thread and deemed ineligible.

Entry Limits

Children may submit multiple pieces of artwork each month.

However, each child will receive only one entry into the random prize drawing per month, regardless of the number of submissions.

Children may participate each month of the contest.

Once a child has won a monthly prize, they may continue to submit artwork but will no longer be eligible to win additional prizes, other than the Grand Prize Sweepstakes.

Questions?

If you have questions about the art contest or water safety concerns, please send them to carolinewatersafety@gmail.com.