Kaylyn Hildreth, freshman, cut her foot on glass in her dorm on March 19. Unable to walk, she needed a ride to the Health Center.
But University of Memphis policy prevented her from getting that transportation, campus employees said.
It kind of freaked us out a bit," Hildreth said. "I tried to get the glass out myself, but it was at a weird angle, so I couldn't get it."
Emily Smith, junior psychology major, and Katy Pepper, junior journalism major and Daily Helmsman copy editor, attempted to remove the glass with no success, so they decided to call Tiger Patrol to get a ride to the Health Center.
But when Hildreth called, Tiger Patrol said they were not sending out carts as their operating hours are from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and she had called around 3 p.m. They said that the only thing they could do was to call an ambulance if she desired.
When Pepper called Police Services, they were told the campus police couldn't give Hildreth a ride and also said they would call an ambulance if she needed it.
"It wasn't serious enough for an ambulance, and I didn't want to have to pay for it," Hildreth said.
Pepper then called the Health Center to ask if they could provide any assistance. She was given the same response she had received twice already.
Hildreth opted to wait and let her mother, a licensed practical nurse, look at the cut.
Hildreth said she is concerned that students won't be able to receive treatment for critical injuries without paying exorbitant hospital fees.
"It's ridiculous," she said. "I mean, I'm paying $1,500 dollars for a dorm room to live in where no one can help me, except for the ambulance. What if something more serious happened? I think it's a strange policy."
Police Services Deputy Director Derek Myers said campus police aren't allowed to transport anyone for medical reasons.
"Part of it's liability, but the other part is that it's not part of our core mission," Myers said. "You end up not doing your job. We can't be everything to everybody. We have one mission, and we have to stick with it."
When Police Services receives a call, the dispatcher assesses the situation and sends an officer to the scene if necessary, Myers said.
"Our officers are trained first responders and have Automatic External Defibrillators at their disposal for use if necessary," he said in an email."Our officers have also been trained to provide CPR and basic first aid until (the Memphis Fire Department) makes the scene."
After MFD assesses the situation, the person can choose to be taken in an ambulance to a medical facility or can make other arrangements.
"This is one of those gray areas," Myers said. "They need to be dealt with on a case by case basis. The dispatcher is going to tell her we can't. In that case, she could have asked for a supervisor."
If Hildreth or her friends had asked for a supervisor, they could have received a ride, depending on the injury, Myers said.
He said Police Services dispatchers are trained to tell students who ask for a ride "no." Had the incident taken place at night when Tiger Patrol operates, they could have given Hildreth a ride unless transportation would have aggravated the injury, according to their policy.
Hildreth said she would like to see someone at the Health Center respond to calls about injuries.
Some of the nurses who currently work on campus could be employed to take those calls when they are made, said Derrick Passero, senior management information systems major.
"Get an automated people mover, like the one at FedEx, and get some nurses on standby ready to go out," he said.
Deborah Lansford, senior foreign languages double major, said she would like to see some sort of emergency program in place.
"The idea of an emergency health thing is a wonderful idea," Lansford said. "I see those carts with tools in them driving around all the time. Such an event would be so rare, they might only need one cart.
"I can take care of myself to an extent, but I don't want to wonder what will happen if I get injured."
