In February 2026, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Blood Panel met in Brussels, Belgium to update policies for adequate blood supply for future conflicts and health crises. The panel focused on military support. It is recommended that civilian blood services assess their ability to administer timely and life-saving transfusions during large spikes in demand. This correspondence sets out the rationale for this recommendation. It also lists the steps it considers necessary. The aim is to increase the readiness of civilian and military blood.