Introducing the Nobak Soap Alert - the world’s first intelligent soap dispenser
Health Authorities across the globe all agree that good and proper hand washing is one of the best and cheapest defenses against harmful bacteria*. The Soap Alert dispenser allows you to double** the amount of hand washing in your organization and realize the associated benefits, such as reduced sick leave and reduced spread of infection.
*Source: WHO, CDC, ECDC and The Danish Health Authority
** https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(15)00383-7/abstract
What is Soap Alert?
The Soap Alert is a soap dispenser that assists in maintaining a high frequency of handwashing with soap. If a person needs to wash their hands with soap after using a restroom, the Soap Alert will nudge the individual to wash their hands with soap and help them sustain an important hygiene habit. The Soap Alert will not only work as a means to maintain a high amount (frequency) of handwashing with soap - it will also assist with the right amount of time (quality) it takes to properly wash your hands with soap.
As opposed to other types of hand hygiene interventions, the Soap Alert is a simple and particularly effective solution that does not diminish its effect over time. The dispenser will intervene if needed and it will not prompt a user if it is not necessary.
What is the effect of Soap Alert?
The most important aspect of the Soap Alert concept was to document it’s effect even early in the product’s development.
For this reason, the Soap Alert was tested in an intervention trial at one of the largest hospitals in Denmark. It was important to test the Soap Alert with the handwashing habits of both ordinary people and healthcare professionals. To do this, Soap Alert solutions were installed in both the restrooms used by patients and relatives, and those used by the hospital staff.
The results of the trial were very positive and led to the following improvements:
Frequency of handwashing with soap for patients and relatives saw a 146% improvement (from 29% to 71%)
Frequency of handwashing with soap for the healthcare workers saw a 40% improvement (from 66% to 91%)
The overall frequency of handwashing for all the restrooms involved in the trial saw a 65% improvement (from 46% to 76%)
The intervention trial is documented in:
https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(15)00383-7/abstract
Handwashing with soap, % of all restroom visits
How does it work?
Most people know that thorough hand washing with soap is important. But there is a constant battle for our attention spans and sometimes we humans forget the basics.
That is why we designed Soap Alert to function the same way, as a seat belt alarm in a car. It helps you maintain an important habit without being intrusive. And while a seat belt alarm primarily helps the people inside the vehicle, proper hand washing helps yourself, and everyone you could potentially pass on harmful germs to - your colleagues, your family, your customers, your business partners, etc.
What are the benefits of increased hand hygiene?
There are many benefits to good hand hygiene and washing your hands with soap is one way to ensure a high level of hand hygiene. In essence, by washing your hands with soap you are cleaning off particles that can carry trillions of bacteria - germs that can make you or others sick.
It is an unequivocal fact that hand washing with soap is one of the most effective and also cost-effective interventions when it comes to preventing the spread of harmful bacteria.
Reducing the spread of harmful bacteria can reduce the number of infections, which in turn can reduce:
Number of sick days - reducing the number of sick days is especially critical for healthcare workers
Number of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) - HAIs are often costly to treat and take up hospital beds.
Number of AMR (Antimicrobial resistance) infections - AMR is on the rise and a large and growing concern both globally and nationally.
Investing in handwashing with soap is both cost-effective and cost-saving.
One benefit from increased hand hygiene is a reduced number of sick days. Try our calculator and see what the potential benefits are for your organization
Soap Alert FAQ
What is the cost of a Soap Alert solution?
We have made things simple and easy. With a starting cost as low as 375 EUR (excl. VAT), you can realize the power and potential of the Soap Alert technology from day one. If you believe that doubling the amount of handwashing with soap in your organization can eliminate just one sick day, a Soap Alert dispenser has already paid for itself - and all subsequent benefits and savings will be 100% free.
What is the life time of a Soap Alert dispenser?
The Soap Alert dispenser has been built to last - the current model has a chassis made from Corian®. Not only will the Soap Alert drastically increase the amount of beneficial had washing in a washroom, but it was designed to be the last soap dispenser you buy for a very long time.
How is the Soap Alert powered?
The Soap Alert runs on battery or a fixed power source. The battery lasts approx. 6 months of continual use on a single charge and is rechargeable.
Does the Soap Alert come in a hands free version as well?
We recognize that some prefer a hands-free soap dispenser. The Soap Alert HR (Hands-free) is scheduled for release in 2025.
Is there any limitations to the Soap Alert technology?
Yes. The Soap Alert technology relies on single user lavatories, i.e. with a toilet and a sink in the same room. These are the preferred standard in clinical settings for which the Soap Alert was designed.
Can the Soap Alert’s nudging capabilities be customized
Yes. As a default the Soap Alert will nudge by sight and then by sound. If required, the nudging features can be deactivated or reactivated.
Does the Soap Alert technology rely on monitoring individuals?
No. The Soap Alert was specifically designed to act as an in-situation intervention, just like a seat belt alarm in a car. Thus it does not collect, nor store any personal data. It only collects basic data on usage rates. This also means that the Soap Alert requires no tags, sensors or other ancillary technology to function as a powerful hygiene intervention.
The story of Soap Alert
Soap Alert is a patented technology that has been designed and developed in Denmark. The initial idea for the dispenser materialized several years ago, but as of the 2020 pandemic and the pressure it put on healthcare systems around the globe, the idea was put into sharp context.
Because of this, Soap Alert is not only designed as a means to combat disease and infection but also as a tool to reduce sick days and sick leave in general. As is commonly stated in the Danish health care system, “clean hands are warm hands”.
We are looking for partners and collaborators
Are you a distributor or a reseller with an interest in Soap Alert? Or are you an OEM seeking to put our technology in your product? Feel free to get in touch if you want to know more or discuss a potential partnership opportunity.
Do you want to get in touch?
Are you interested in learning more about Soap Alert? You can use our contact form or send us an email at hello@nobak.com, and we will respond to your inquiry as quickly as possible