Newport Beach lifeguards enjoy bloodiest day ever

Newport Beach Lifeguards collected a record-breaking 110 donations for the countywide blood drive Wednesday afternoon, beating last year’s record of 101 donations.

More than 50 lifeguards, city members, friends and family of the firefighters and the fire department volunteered to donate. In a later celebration, more than 100 hot dogs, 150 hamburgers and gallons of iced tea and lemonade were given out.

Lifeguards Bryndis Klein, Kimmie Morrison and Jen Perry organized the drive this year, spending hours recruiting dozens of people to donate. About 330 people will be helped because of the Newport Beach Lifeguards’ efforts.

Newport Beach won the Red Cross trophy each of the last two years, beating all other lifeguard organizations from Orange and Los Angeles counties. The results for this year will not be known until all departments have participated.

For those who missed Wednesday’s drive, there’s another chance to donate blood coming up between 1 and 7 p.m. Aug. 27 at a location yet to be determined. Sign up now by calling Chelsea at (949) 644-3178.

— Adriana Sellers