HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, Culpepper Cardiac Foundation partner to expand AED access
HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation continue their shared mission of improving heart health and saving lives across West Central Florida. Together, they are placing automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, in community spaces.
Recently, the foundation, with support from Brandon Hospital, installed new AEDs at ECHO (Emergency Care Help Organization) locations in Brandon and Riverview, marking the 91st and 92nd AED placements across the region by CCF.
A paramedic representing the Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation installed the AEDs and led a hands-on demonstration for ECHO staff and volunteers, showing how the life-saving devices work and how it can be used in an emergency. ECHO placed the AEDs in a central area where staff, volunteers and community members can quickly access them.
“Our ongoing partnership with Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation reflects our commitment to educate our community on what to do in the event of a cardiac emergency,” said Nealy Kinnison, vice president of emergency services at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital.
The collaboration between Brandon Hospital and Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation began two years ago, inspired by founder Melanie Brown Culpepper’s personal story. After losing her fiancé, Michael Culpepper, to cardiac arrest in 2020, Culpepper founded the organization to raise funds for AEDs in local businesses and community spaces.
“When I found Michael unresponsive, I called 911, and they asked if I had a defibrillator,” Culpepper said. “That day, I didn’t. I knew I couldn’t save him, but I could save someone else.”
Since then, Culpepper has dedicated herself to expanding access to AEDs and raising awareness about how to respond to cardiac arrest.
“The Riverview and Brandon ECHO locations will have AEDs accessible, which can improve the chance of survival if a community member experiences a cardiac emergency,” said Anna Hendrix, emergency services manager at HCA Florida Riverview Emergency. “Recently, our team of nurse educators taught hands-only CPR and first aid training to ECHO staff and volunteers, and now, they will have access to life-saving technology.”
“With AEDs in our Riverview and Brandon ECHO locations, we can help save lives in our community,” said Eleanor Saunders, executive director of ECHO. “We are grateful for our partners, HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and Culpepper’s Cardiac Foundation. We feel prepared in the event of an emergency to be able to provide support until emergency response teams arrive.”
HCA Florida Brandon Hospital is also expanding access to emergency care with the addition of seventh freestanding emergency department. The hospital expects to open this 13,000 square foot facility, HCA Healthcare FishHawk ER, in late 2026, located at 12910 Boyette Road in Riverview.