As National Preparedness Month comes to an end this week, that doesn’t mean we should forget about the importance of being ready in the event of a crisis or emergency.

Through the first two weeks of September, the American Red Cross was down more than 10,000 donations from what is needed to replenish the blood supply and be prepared for emergencies large and small. Declines in donations can lead to blood shortages and make it difficult to meet patient needs should a disaster or emergency strike.

Everyday, hospitals give blood to patients. Sometimes, it is on a routine basis, as in the case of someone who has a chronic condition like sickle cell disease. But sometimes, a patient has a traumatic accident and needs immediately.

If people stop donating blood, or if there isn’t enough of all different types of blood, this could be detrimental to medical professionals’ ability to help people.

Making sure blood bank shelves stay stocked is important, especially for those with rare blood types like O negative, A negative and B negative.

Donations of platelets are essential since they only have a shelf life of five days.

The next blood drives in Lawrence County will be from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. today at Ohio University Southern in the Riffe Mains Rotunda; from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Collins Career Center in Chesapeake; and from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at South Point High School.

If you are able to donate, consider giving a little of your time to potentially help save a life.