Giving blood is a gift of life that Heartland Blood Centers strongly believes in.

Throughout the month of September, Heartland Blood Centers will sponsor a blood drive in the DeKalb area. In remembrance of Sept. 11, Heartland Blood Centers will give a “United We Stand” T-shirt to every person who donates blood at Heartland.

People should donate blood not only during tragic events such as Sept. 11, but regularly, said Katie Przybylski, publicist for Heartland Blood Centers.

“The need for blood is constant,” Przybylski said. “Because blood cannot be manufactured outside the human body, the only way to ensure that patients have the life-saving blood they need is through the generosity of volunteer blood donors.”

Heartland Blood Centers must collect 450 units of blood each day to meet the rations of patients in the 34 Chicago and Northwest Indiana areas where hospitals supply blood, Przybylski said.

Each person has his or her own blood group band type, Przybylski said. The four major groups are O, A, B and AB. In addition, a person either may be Rh positive or Rh negative.

People of all blood types are encouraged to donate to ensure that blood is available when people of all blood types are in need, Przybylski said.

“Just one pint of your blood can help save the lives of several people. The pint of blood you donate is usually split into several parts to meet the needs of different patients,” Przybylski said. “For example, your platelets may give a child with leukemia a chance to live, while your red cells may help an accident victim get well. Your single donation can help several patients.”

With the constant need of blood supply within the U.S., Heartland strongly encourages helping to ensure the safety and well-being of others in need.

“Every two seconds, someone needs a blood transfusion,” Przybylski said. “Less than 5 percent of the U.S. population eligible to donate blood actually do. In other words, 95 percent of eligible donors are not donating, but could. Take advantage of the opportunity you have to give the gift of life.”