The rise of preventable child deaths in West Virginia has abuse prevention groups working harder to protect children. Local agencies say it is about prevention, whether it is a car wrecks or abuse that claims the lives of our children, there are far too many preventable deaths. It is a reality that becoming all too common in the Mountain State. The amount of children who are dying needlessly is climbing to a sickening level.

Many West Virgnians are shocked at recent reports showing that just over 1,500 children died from 1999 to 2004, and that one third of those deaths should have never happened. Child abuse prevention agencies urge people to report any instances of child abuse.