Blood Bank drained, donors needed
San Diego needs blood badly. The current blood shortage may cause local hospitals to postpone elective surgeries in order to keep emergency blood supply levels at a minimum.
The American Red Cross Blood Services reports that San Diego is experiencing its worst blood shortage since 2000.
“We’re encouraging all southern Californians to make an appointment to donate blood as soon as possible,” said Stephen Whitburn, spokesman for American Red Cross Blood Services.
To make an appointment, call (800) GIVELIFE or visit www.givelife.org.
The San Diego Blood Bank reports critically low levels in seven of the eight blood-type categories. The shortages indicate that the blood bank has a zero-day supply of some blood types, such as O positive.
According to the San Diego blood bank, in order to be prepared for an emergency there must be a five- to seven-day supply of blood. Currently, reported levels are at three days or less.
The shortage can have a drastic effect on the city by hindering its ability to respond to emergencies in which blood transfusions are essential to saving lives. Some patients require a daily supply of donated blood just to survive.
Factors contributing to this growing shortage of blood include a drop in the number of blood donations during the summer months by college students. About 20 percent of the donated blood comes from college campuses, according to Whitburn.
To combat the shortage, people are urged to donate. Potential donors can go to any of the five donor centers in San Diego: East County Donor Center, 680 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon; the San Diego Blood Bank, 440 Upas St.; North County Donor Center, 1340 West Valley Parkway in Escondido; North Coastal Donor Center, 161 Thunder Drive in Vista; or at the South Bay Donor Center, 1717 Sweetwater Road, Suite G, National City.
For more information on donor sites, donor qualifications and upcoming blood drives, visit www.sandiegobloodbank.org.

City beefs up police presence at beaches
“I think we’ll have a very safe summer,” Police Chief William Lansdowne predicted at a City Council committee meeting on June 14, after announcing plans to target crime at the beaches with several programs and strategies.
Full-time beach teams from the San Diego Police Department’s Northern Division will be deployed and will enforce misdemeanor offenses, such as open container of alcohol or minors in possession of alcohol, and vandalism, among other crimes. Lansdowne said just the physical presence of many officers will prevent crime through high visibility.
Surveillance cameras will be used in some beach locations, though Lansdowne did not specify which ones. The traffic division will work in conjunction with the daytime beach teams. Special event traffic controllers have been assigned every Sunday throughout the summer, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., from Belmont Park to the South Mission Beach jetty.
Park rangers will be assigned to the Mission Bay Park area during the daytime throughout the summer. They will work on what Lansdowne’s report described as “quality of life concerns” such as illegal parking, illegal lodging and litter.
The police department’s Western Division will increase walking patrol teams in Ocean Beach to enforce alcohol regulations. Officers will be assigned to walking patrols on Newport Avenue to beef up police presence at night.
Lansdowne told the Public Safety & Neighborhood Services Committee that the department will “use lessons learned from previous events…we’ll take a look at what works and what doesn’t work.”
The report was accepted by the committee, which comprises City Councilmen Kevin Faulconer, Tony Young, Ben Hueso and Brian Maienschein, who is also committee chairman.

Ride’s annual science camp ready to blast off
Astronaut Sally Ride will launch another mission this summer: the Sally Ride Science Camp for girls in grades sixth through nine, to be held at the University of San Diego (USD).
Young scientists at the camp will delve into the worlds of astronomy, marine science or robotics through hands-on experiments, labs, workshops, guest lectures and field trips. Young astronomers will learn how to safely launch and retrieve eggstronauts. Marine biologists will dissect a fish or mollusk. Budding robotic technicians will build a robot.
The overnight camp aims to inspire middle-school girls through the community of peer scientists and by interaction with female role models in science and engineering fields.
Stereotypes often paint science as a male-orientated dominion, according to spokeswoman Francis French.
“[Stereotypes say] it doesn’t look fun; it doesn’t look female-orientated; it doesn’t look hands-on,” French said. “We try to show that it’s really fun; it’s really relevant and it’s something they can do in the future.”
Camp founder Ride, the first American woman in space, teaches physics at the University of California, San Diego. She also directs the California Space Institute, a research institute at the University of California.
The camp is open to sixth-and seventh-graders from July 16 to 22 (cost $1,375) and for eight- and ninth-graders from July 16 to 25 ($1,790). Need-based aid is available and all students are encouraged to apply. For more information call (800) 548-6612 or visit www.sallyridecamps.com.