St. Cloud first responders honored for positive result after resident’s cardiac arrest

  • HCA Florida Osceola Hospital honored members of St. Cloud Fire Rescue, the St. Cloud Police Department and City of St. Cloud dispatch for their work who helped resident Donna Allred survive a recent cardiac episode. (Photo/Taylor McFee)
    HCA Florida Osceola Hospital honored members of St. Cloud Fire Rescue, the St. Cloud Police Department and City of St. Cloud dispatch for their work who helped resident Donna Allred survive a recent cardiac episode. (Photo/Taylor McFee)
    Donna Allred shares a moment with St. Cloud Fire Rescue Lt. Angel Rodriguez at Friday’s ceremony. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

    Donna Allred shares a moment with St. Cloud Fire Rescue Lt. Angel Rodriguez at Friday’s ceremony. (Photo/Taylor McFee)

    Donna Allred stood face to face Friday with the dispatchers, police officers, paramedics and hospital staff who helped save her life.

    HCA Florida Osceola Hospital honored members of St. Cloud Fire Rescue, the St. Cloud Police Department and City of St. Cloud dispatch during an EMS Excellence Awards ceremony.

    The recognition centered on Allred, a St. Cloud resident who went into sudden cardiac arrest while at work earlier this year. CPR was started before emergency crews arrived. St. Cloud police officers then continued lifesaving efforts and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to help restore her heart rhythm.

    SCFR transported Allred to HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, where she was treated by the hospital’s emergency department and cardiovascular care team.

    Friday’s ceremony brought Allred and her family together with many of the people involved in her emergency response and recovery. HCA Florida Osceola Hospital presented awards, certificates and plaques to the first responders and dispatchers in recognition of their quick action and teamwork.

    Walter Long, chief operating officer of HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, attended the ceremony along with hospital leaders and caregivers.

    Dr. Cristina Iturrey, an emergency medicine physician at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, also spoke during the event. Iturrey discussed the connection between hospital emergency care and emergency medical services in the field. She also shared that she had previously volunteered with St. Cloud Fire Rescue, helping train crews for the type of emergency response that became critical in Allred’s case.

    Among those recognized were St. Cloud Police Department Officer Genesh and St. Cloud Fire Rescue personnel Luis Perdomo, lead paramedic Trevy Denny and paramedics Ty Toomey and Lt. Angel Rodriguez. Crews from Rescue 33 and Engine 31 were also recognized, along with City of St. Cloud dispatchers.

    Allred’s case served as a reminder of how quickly cardiac arrest can happen, and how important it is for bystanders, dispatchers, police officers, EMS crews and hospital teams to work together. Early CPR and access to an AED can make a critical difference before a patient reaches the hospital.