DESTIN, Fla. – HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital announced Tuesday it has donated an automated external defibrillator (AED) to the Destin Chamber of Commerce. The hospital said the donation includes hands-on training for the business organization’s staff and board members on using the device during a cardiac emergency.
According to the hospital’s press release, the donation followed a recent medical incident involving the adult daughter of Chamber board member Robert McFarland. In a statement provided by the hospital, McFarland claimed his daughter collapsed at work after experiencing ventricular fibrillation. He credited the immediate response of her coworkers, who were reportedly trained in CPR and AED use, with saving her life. Following the incident, the Chamber sought to acquire a device for its own facility.
Shane Moody, the Chamber’s president and CEO, stated that the organization was “incredibly grateful” for the equipment and training. In a corresponding statement, HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital CEO KC Donahey noted that having an AED available can provide bystanders with “an important tool to help while first responders are on the way.” The hospital positions the donation as part of a broader effort to improve community preparedness for cardiac events.
