Year after year we see the heartbreaking stories on the news about heat-related deaths due to children being left in a vehicle. Helpless, scared and alone- they're baked to a slow, agonizing death.

Don't have kids? Think it's just another sad story? Watch this video http://youtu.be/XNDWN8KDVSM, then tell me it doesn't affect you in some way. Something needs to happen.

A child is a precious gift, and on average 38 of those precious gifts are taken away from us every year due to heat-related deaths after being trapped in a vehicle. Approximately 52% of these deaths are due to the caregiver "forgetting" about their child in the car. The U.S. already has 13 reported deaths so far this year.

I'm starting this petition in hopes that I can implement a mandate for parents to notify their daycare providers if their child(ren) will not be in attendance that day, and more importantlyrequiring daycare providers to contact a parent if a child is a no-show.

I am by no means placing responsibility of deaths on childcare providers and not all deaths have involved a child not being dropped off at daycare, but it is just one more tool to add to this fight.

Currently, there are only 30 states that have laws regarding leaving minors in a vehicle unattended, the state of Virginia is not one of them. If this petition can save just one precious life it will be worth it. Even if we can't make this a law, hopefully this will bring awareness to childcare facilities to make this their policy.

Thank you for your support!

Beth Kenavan<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />