MERT proposes 1920 Commons as its new emergency base

Penn's Medical Emergency Response Team wants 1920 Commons to become an emergency base.

Completely student-run, MERT responds to medical emergencies. "We are the first response, and we make sure the patient is stable," College junior and Chief Josh Glick said.

This organization is working closely with the Undergraduate Assembly to move to Commons' ground floor.

The new location is more central, Glick said. There is easier access to the Quadrangle and high-rise college houses. Since the space is also bigger than MERT's current headquarters in Sansom Place East, the organization would be able to respond faster to emergencies.

The group contacted College sophomore Alec Webley, chairman of the Undergraduate Assembly's Sustainability, Safety and Facilities committee, to find a place to move.

"There's a lot of consensus about the idea," said Webley. "The problem is fleshing out the details."

He said MERT wants to make a seamless move. He is hopeful that a proposal will be made by the end of this year, and is confident that this move will happen.

However, Business Services spokeswoman Barbara Lea-Kruger said Business Services has not received a formal proposal from MERT to occupy space under Commons. "We are open to getting proposals," she said.

"Commons is in between the Quad and the west part of Campus - most of the calls are in a block or so from the area," College senior and MERT Operations Captain Kevin Smith said.

MERT's headquarters in Sansom Place is not ideal for handling medical equipment, he explained, adding that the response times are not as efficient because of long hallways and stairways. The location is also far from many of their calls.

Most calls are within about a block of 1920 Commons, Smith said.

College freshman and UA member Ariella Chivil said the proposed location would be an improvement.

"We need to finalize things before we send out a proposal," she said.

She added that the doors are kept locked during nonbusiness hours, which might be problematic since MERT will require access at all times.

Still, "this project is definitely on it's way," Chivil said. "It is a great place for them."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.