The Burlington County Fire Chiefs Association & Burlington County EMS Chiefs Association Annual Awards Ceremony honored some of the county’s most remarkable first responders on June 18.
One of the EMTs honored was Shannon McCusker of Endeavor Emergency Squad and Tabernacle Rescue Squad. She was commended for her work at Endeavor while assisting with a house fire in Burlington Township last year. An elderly woman was trapped on the second floor of the home, and after the firefighters got her out, they passed her over to McCusker and her team.
“We treated her with paramedics on the scene, got her over the landing zone for the helicopter, and transferred her care over to the helicopter group,” she said.
The 26-year-old Medford resident has been an EMT for about three years now. She has been with Endeavor for about two and a half years and Tabernacle for about nine months. This is the first time she has been recognized for her work, and the news was a surprise.
“I had no idea the EMS Chiefs Association did that kind of award ceremony. It was very nice to be recognized, because in this job, most of the time we don’t think about being recognized as EMTS. We’re just happy to do our jobs, we’re just happy to help,” she said.
Other Endeavor EMTs who assisted with the same emergency were also recognized, though they did not make it to the ceremony.
Endeavor Emergency Squad has been active in Burlington County since 1940. The squad serves Burlington City, Burlington Township, Beverly, Edgewater Park, and Springfield.
Tabernacle Rescue Squad, where McCusker is as a per diem employee, has been active since 1952. The squad serves Tabernacle and Shamong townships.
McCusker has been a valuable asset to both squads. And being an EMT is a valuable, meaningful part of McCusker’s life.
“I was in a really bad car accident back in 2018, and the main reason I’m still here today is because of the EMTs and the paramedics that helped me get out of my car. It was a very eye-opening experience for me,” she said. “I knew I always wanted to be in the medical field, but I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I had just gotten out of high school, so it was kind of that perfect time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.”
“It definitely was my calling,” she said. “I absolutely love my job. I love what I do.”
Endeavor Emergency Squad EMTs (left to right) Desiree Nelson, Shannon McCusker, and Tamya Hill at the Burlington County Fire Chiefs Association & Burlington County EMS Chiefs Association Annual Awards Ceremony.
