Weekly contest Health Base movie schedule ... - Navy Dispatch

14 • www.armedforcesdispatch.com • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2012
SeaWorld’s Rescue
Team, along
with Sailors from
NAS North Island,
transport a male
California sea lion
on a stretcher to
bring it back to the
marine-life park
for medical care.
photo by Mike Aguilera
NAS North Island
SeaWorld rescues large male sea lion with help from Sailors
Effort is successful after several attempts
and monitoring for more than a week
NAS NORTH ISLAND -
SeaWorld San Diego’s Rescue
Team executed a challenging
rescue of a large male California
sea lion on the beach here Nov.
9. SeaWorld, in communication
with base officials, had been
monitoring the animal for more
than a week.
Over the last 10 days, the
435-pound marine mammal had
been sighted on the beach and
seemed lethargic and in distress.
As the days progressed, the
animal appeared to get thinner
and more lethargic.
During one of several rescue
attempts, SeaWorld’s team
witnessed the sea lion have a
seizure. SeaWorld rescuers
were able to rescue the sea lion
last Friday by tranquilizing him
so that they could safely get him
into a transport unit and bring
him to the marine-life park’s
animal care complex.
SeaWorld’s Rescue Team,
made up of animal care specialists
and veterinarians, are
currently stabilizing the sea
lion and assessing his condition.
SeaWorld experts believe
the animal is about 25 percent
underweight and is extremely
dehydrated. Veterinarians will
run tests in the coming days
to determine what may have
caused the seizure. SeaWorld
will administer fluids and any
medicine necessary to treat the
sea lion. It is unknown at this
time how long the animal will
be in SeaWorld’s care.
The goal of the SeaWorld
Rescue Program is to rescue,
rehabilitate and return animals
to the wild. On average, Sea-
World rescues and treats more
than 300 marine animals and
birds each year. Of these animals,
seals and sea lions form the largest
percentage. In 2012, SeaWorld
has cared for more than 400 animals,
including marine mammals,
seabirds and sea turtles.
Students prepare holiday gift bags for USS California Sailors
by Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg
GOLETA, Calif. - Through a
connection with the Santa Barbara
Navy League, students from
Ellwood Elementary School here
are learning about the meaning
of service to one’s country, patriotism,
and a submarine, USS
California (SSN 781), named
after the Golden State.
The students, enrolled in Alice
Robles-Richter’s 3rd grade class,
are expanding their awareness of
Veterans Day and extending
their understanding of the day
are reaching out to those who are
serving and who have served.
Robles-Richter was given the
suggestion of supporting Sailors
assigned to the Virginia-class attack
submarine California. From
there, the idea of thanking the
submariners for their service, not
just on Veterans Day, but for the
holidays was launched.
“The students will be writing
thank you notes to the Sailors
on board USS California and
stuffing holiday bags with candy,
sunflower seeds and crossword
puzzles to give to them as well,”
said Patricia Westberg, president
Santa Barbara Navy League,
who coordinated this learning
exchange opportunity.
In addition to writing letters
to submariners stationed aboard
California, Robles-Richter has
coordinated a lecture opportunity
for her students. A former
Navy pilot and current member
of the Santa Barbara Navy
League Board, retired Cmdr.
Charles Huff will discuss his
time in service.
“The timing couldn’t be better
as the students are studying
a unit on patriotism during this
time period,” said Robles-Richter,
who added that the students
had created patriotic song books
about Veterans Day.
Westberg plans on visiting
USS California in December
to deliver the gift bags to the
Sailors assigned aboard the
submarine.
Employees faking injuries or employers illegally denying claims are examples of workers’ comp fraud.
This is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $150,000 fine.
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Insurance investigate and prosecute workers’ compensation fraud.
The above anti-fraud posters are available, free of charge, to you to post in your work place. Help us deter workers’ compensation fraud.