Lifeguards encourage donations during drive

Newport Beach lifeguards have scheduled a second blood drive Friday due to an expected shortage of reserves over the weekend, authorities said.

Donations will be taken from 1 to 7 p.m. in front of lifeguard headquarters at the base of the Newport Pier. The drive will count as part of a contest between the different lifeguard agencies in Southern California.

“We had the title stolen from us from L.A. County and we’re trying to reclaim the plaque back,” Lifeguard Battalion Chief Jim Turner said.

Newport Beach Lifeguards collected 101 donations during the first blood drive, in July.

“Each donation gets split into thirds and goes to three different people. We’d love to have the public come in,” Turner said.

For Southern California the organization needs more than 1,500 units to serve the daily needs of all the hospitals served by the Red Cross, spokeswoman Teresa Solorio said. That number does not include emergencies such as traffic collisions, where one victim can use upwards of 50 units.

Blood supplies are needed daily for patients going into surgery, being treated for cancer, those with blood diseases, severe burns or traumatic injuries.

As of Wednesday afternoon, only a quarter-day supply of Type O-negative blood and a third-day supply of O-positive blood are available in Southern California’s inventory, Solorio said.

Type-O negative is the most commonly used because it can be used on a person regardless of his or her blood type.

Type A-negative and B-negative blood are also low. The blood reserve is made up mostly of previous contributors.

“Basically, we’re coming into the Labor Day weekend and people are leaving on that last trip before school starts,” Solorio said. “This summer has been particularly hard.”

“We’ve recouped a little bit, due to media attention, but it’s slacking off a bit and people forget that we have a huge need for blood,” Solorio said.

In severe situations where reserves run out, elective situations may have to be postponed to hold back-ups for emergencies and importing supplies can take valuable hours, Solorio said.

“We encourage everybody to support it again this year because it will make a difference,” she said.

Signups are available by calling the Newport Beach Fire Department at (949) 644-3178, (949) 644-3046 or visiting www.oc-redcross.org, although walk-ins are welcome, lifeguards said. All donors will need to present a photo ID to donate.