Protecting Your Precious Cargo

The best way to keep you child safe while driving is to have them properly secured in a CSS (car safety seat). Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for children over one year. To help keep our children safe, doctors and government agencies have set important guidelines for all parents to follow.

The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) agree a rear-facing safety seat is the best seat for a young child. The AAP recommends a rear facing seat until at least two years of age or until the seat’s limits have been reached. Once a child outgrows the limits of their rear-facing infant seat, the infant or toddler should continue to ride in a rear-facing convertible seat for as long as possible. Most convertible car seats allow a rear-facing position for up to 35 pounds, and it is recommended that until your child hits the limits for the seat, they should be in a rear-facing position. In other words, keep your child rear-facing as long your seat allows. This shift from one year of rear-face to two years or more of rear-face positioning is due to current research showing better neck and spinal cord support in the rear-facing position. A physician representative for the AAP explains, ““A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body. For larger children, a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, and a belt-positioning booster seat provides better protection than a seat belt alone until the seat belt fits correctly.” As a child’s height and weight in accordance to age differs from child to child, it is important to know the limits for your CSS and follow accordingly.

Once your child has outgrown the limits for their rear-facing convertible seat, it is time to face them forward. The height and weight limits increase for a convertible seat once they are placed in the forward-facing position.  According to the AAP “There is a safety advantage for young children to remain in CSSs with a harness for as long as possible before transitioning to booster seats.” The NHTSA agrees that keeping your child in a forward-facing car seat with a five point harness is the safest mode of travel until the seat’s height and weight limits have been reached. Once a child has reached the limits for a forward-facing car seat, it is time for a booster seat. The booster seat, like the infant and convertible seat, should still be placed in the back seat of the vehicle. Booster seats aid in keeping the seat belt in the proper position for a younger child. A child is not ready for a seat belt until it properly fits without the aid of a booster. A seatbelt without booster assistance typically fits a child correctly once they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between the ages of 8 and 12. The NHTSA advises that “for a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face.”

 To learn more about these recommendations click the following links: http://bit.ly/1ObXw7J, http://bit.ly/1WFdZZi, http://bit.ly/2rRurOZ.

September Employee of the Month: Scott Mawdsley

Employee of Month Scott Mawdsely

Congrats to Scott Mawdsley for being named September’s Employee of the Month. Being the friendly and welcoming face of the parts department, Scott treats every guest as a member of his own family and helps each person find the exact part they need for the vehicle. Scott has been with Gamblin Motors since 2012 and strives to learn something new each day about his fellow employees. Scott is the one who organizes employee birthday party potlucks and Saturday lunches. He loves getting to know employees and customers. Congratulations Scott!

First Annual Corvette Show

Corvette Show1

From the classic generations to Stingrays, we love Corvettes at Gamblin Motors.  To see some of these models in person, join us on Saturday, September 12 for our first  Corvette show. We are teaming up with the Tacoma Corvette Club to bring an array of Corvette models to the Plateau community. Chevrolet_C2_Corvette_Coupe_(Rassemblement_Saint-Bruno-De-Montarville_'10)

Come down to our main store (1047 Roosevelt Ave E, Enumclaw) to view these beauties and vote for the People’s Choice award winners. We will open at 9:00 a.m. to both entrants and the public to begin viewing and voting.  Voting closes at noon, but the Corvettes will remain on display until 3:00.  While we are counting the ballots, enjoy music, giveaways, and a great lunch provided by Big Daddy’s Family BBQ.  Awards will be handed out at 1:30. Chevrolet_Corvette_Cabriolet_(4686689134)

Interested in bringing home one of the trophies? Enter your Corvette through the Tacoma Corvette Club for a $20 entry free. We hope to see you Saturday, and while you’re here, take a peek at our 2016 Corvette Stingray that just arrived.CORVETTE 1961-SIDE