There are many benefits to donating blood, and now, with national blood levels at critical lows, there’s never been a better time to do so. And that’s doubly true.

One of the top benefits that often goes unconsidered with making a donation is the mini-health assessment you get when donating to a facility such as the American Red Cross. Not only do you help provide life-saving care to others with your donation, a trained staff member takes your own health into consideration by providing free checks for blood pressure (high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke), hemoglobin (the protein that contains iron and carries oxygen to the tissues in the body) and pulse (an irregular pulse can indicate underlying conditions).

More, after each blood donation, the unit is sent to labs for testing, including infectious disease testing, blood type/Rh testing and lastly — the timely subject of this editorial — sickle cell trait screening.

According to the Red Cross, about 100,000 people across the United States, and most of whom are of African descent, are living with the most common inherited blood disorder in the country: sickle cell disease.

Those who suffer from the disease find that because of their own particular red blood cells, it is difficult for their blood to flow smoothly and carry oxygen throughout the body. This often leads to pain, tissue and organ damage, acute anemia and strokes.

This month, February, is Black History Month, and so is a good time to raise awareness about health disparities in the Black Community — and what we all can do to help lessen those differences.

Blood transfusions aid patients with sickle cell disease by increasing the number of normal red blood cells in the body. That promotes better oxygen delivery and helps unblock blood vessels. Although it is more likely that a person with sickle cell disease will find a compatible blood match from an blood donor who is Black, this is not the case 100 percent of the time.

What is for sure 100 percent of the time, though, is that donations from each of us not only help those with chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease, but can save the lives of those who are undergoing surgical procedures or those involved in large-scale emergencies.

As the Red Cross and other donation sites such as LifeSouth Community Blood Centers report, “It’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives and a diverse blood supply is needed to help diverse patients who depend on it.”

To find a donation site or blood drive, or for more information about hosting a blood drive or learning about the requirements for donating blood, visit redcrossblood.org or lifesouth.org.

The need is critical and the month reminds us that the time is now. Plan a donation today.