HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and ECHO of Brandon Strengthen Community Support with Volunteer Effort and AED Donation
Leaders from HCA Florida Brandon Hospital recently partnered with local nonprofit ECHO of Brandon to support community health and emergency preparedness through volunteer service and lifesaving equipment donations.
As part of the visit to ECHO of Brandon—an organization that provides emergency food, clothing, and resources to local residents in need—the hospital’s leadership team delivered nearly 1,000 pounds of rice and beans to help stock the nonprofit’s food pantry. They also assisted with portioning and bagging staples for distribution, reinforcing the ongoing partnership between the two organizations.
During the event, hospital leaders announced that two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) will be donated to ECHO, with one unit designated for the Brandon location and another for its Riverview site. The need for the devices emerged after a recent training session in which HCA Florida Brandon’s emergency nursing and education team provided hands-only CPR and first aid instruction to ECHO staff, revealing that neither location had an AED on site.
As a hospital recognized for its cardiac care, the team moved quickly to ensure that ECHO staff will now have the equipment needed to respond effectively in the event of a cardiac emergency. The devices are scheduled for installation in the coming months, and hospital clinicians will return to provide training so that ECHO staff can confidently use the AEDs.
“Supporting ECHO means supporting our community,” said Anna Hendrix, manager of HCA Florida Riverview Emergency, noting the importance of equipping community partners with tools that can make a lifesaving difference.
This initiative highlights HCA Florida Brandon Hospital’s ongoing commitment to community health and safety by combining volunteer service with meaningful investments in emergency preparedness and training.