A bloody good drive for Newport

Newport Beach seems like a lock to win its fourth trophy as the top blood-getter in Southern California after its blood drive Wednesday set a new record for donations, officials said Thursday.

The American Red Cross received 117 donations from the Newport Beach lifeguards’ blood drive Wednesday, said lifeguard Battalion Chief Jim Turner.

That’s seven more donations than the city’s previous best: 110 in June 2007. Add that to the 85 units the lifeguards raised in June, and they’ve amassed 202 units from Newport Beach employees and the surrounding community. That will save up to 606 lives in Orange County, according to the Red Cross.

Turner said the turnout was especially remarkable because August and December are the most difficult months for blood donations due to families being on vacation.

— Joseph Serna