By Brandon Smith
Putnam County EMS via The Cookeville Times
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The emergency services community in Putnam and surrounding counties mourns the loss of Paramedic Carmen Burnette. Paramedic Burnette is well-known throughout the community for her work as a paramedic, an educator, and a friend.
“She was a wonderful person, and excellent worker,” states Putnam County EMS Director Randy Porter. “She is going to be missed. We are all so sad about this,” said Porter.
Paramedic Burnette died suddenly in Nashville on Tuesday evening following a corrective surgery to repair a work-related injury. She was already scheduled to have the surgery later this month, when there was a cancellation in the schedule allowing her to have the procedure done Tuesday. “She had been having quite a bit of pain from her back problem, so she took the early appointment” states Porter.
Burnette’s work began in Putnam County in 1998 as an emergency medical technician, then becoming a paramedic in 2000. In 2002 she became one of the first field training officers at Putnam County EMS. Her talent in teaching those new to the profession has proven invaluable over her many years of doing so. Through many hours of in-service teaching and quality assurance work, Burnette helped shape the way emergency care will beprovided in the Upper Cumberland for decades to come.
She also worked diligently in overseeing the public education of citizen’s learning Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR, for several years. “There are literally thousands of people who have learned CPR from her efforts in the classroom, or behind the scenes. There will be lives saved for years to come through her efforts with this program,” said Porter.
A state official was quoted as saying “She exemplifies the highest standards of a first responder, always going above and beyond expectations to deliver excellent patient care,” as she was awarded the2009 District IV Homeland Security Award.
She leaves behind her husband and two sons.
Paramedic Carmen Burnette was laid to rest in Overton County Memorial Gardens on Sunday afternoon with full honors.