It is with profound sadness and grief that St. Charles County Ambulance District [SCCAD] announces the line of duty death of Lieutenant Sarah McCarthy, a 23-year veteran of the District.
On November 21, McCarthy suffered chest pain while on-duty at SCCAD Station 12 in St. Peters and was taken by colleagues via ambulance Missouri Baptist Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery. On December 4, she suffered a grave setback in her recovery and was transferred to Barnes Hospital St. Louis, where she passed peacefully on December 9 with her loving family by her side. As a final act of service to others, McCarthy gave the gift of organ donation through Mid America Transplant.
McCarthy joined the team at SCCAD in 2002, providing expert patient care to thousands of individuals throughout her tenure. In 2016, she was promoted to Lieutenant – a leadership role that enabled her to offer training and mentorship to scores of SCCAD paramedics. In addition to her role in day-to-day operations, McCarthy was engaged in the District’s Honor Guard, as well as the STARS team – a dedicated team of paramedics who work closely with special needs pediatric patients and their family members.
“To briefly encapsulate Sarah’s contributions to the District and our community is impossible – she was a fierce advocate willing to undertake any action necessary for an individual in need,” said SCCAD Chief Skip Stephens. “Her dedication to patients – particularly our STARS families – was unwavering, and an example that we can all hope to strive for.”
McCarthy’s outstanding work was well-recognized – since 2016, she’d earned SCCAD Awards of Excellence for Patient-Centric Care, Patient Advocacy and Community Service, and was further recognized for embodying the District’s values of dedication, compassion, accountability, and integrity.
Arrangements for Lieutenant McCarthy are pending at this time and will be communicated per the family’s wishes. Our Paramedic Association, Honor Guard and leadership team will work closely with her loved ones to be of service as they navigate this loss