Better Hand Cleaner for a Happier Campus

Deb Stoko Refresh PureBac FOAM

PHOTO © JAMES STEAKLEY

Changing to the Deb Stoko Refresh PureBac FOAM allowed the University of Wisconsin-Madison to realize numerous benefits, including a $5,000 annual savings in the housing department skin care costs, given the optimal shot size and a better cost-in-use of the Deb products.

FOR 168 YEARS, the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW Madison) has served as a public land-grant university and research institution. With more than 7,500 students who live in its 27 residence halls, the university implemented a campaign to promote hand hygiene across its residence halls to improve student health and reduce class absenteeism.

“Infectious diseases can spread quickly on any college campus, but proper handwashing with soap and water is one of the most important steps students can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others,” says Jodi Krause, assistant director of Housekeeping at the university.

UW Madison was using a commercial foaming hand soap, but wanted an effective and economical product for its 600 bathrooms to improve student health.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve our campus, so we were intrigued when we were introduced to Deb,” says Krause.

In 2015, UW Madison replaced its hand cleanser with Deb Stoko Refresh™ PureBac FOAM in all of the resident and staff bathrooms in its 27 residence halls because of its effectiveness in infection prevention.

“We tried the Deb foam in a resident hall and the students and staff liked it a lot better than our previous hand cleanser, so we decided to implement university wide,” says Krause.

The Deb foam helps to maintain the natural acidic protective mantle, whose function includes protecting the skin from bacterial and fungal infection. Its perfume- and dye-free formula reduces the potential for allergic reaction and skin irritation and is ideal for people who are sensitive to fragrances.

“We like the Deb foam because there’s no dye or fragrance to it so it doesn’t leave behind a sticky residue,” said Krause. “It also doesn’t dry out your hands like our previous product.”

www.debgroup.com/us

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management September 2016 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Fayetteville State University Opens New Residence Hall

    Fayetteville State University (FSU) in Fayetteville, N.C., recently completed construction on a new $50-million residence hall, according to a news release. The university partnered with KWK/Jenkins • Peer Architects on the design of Bronco Pride Hall.

  • Designing School Spaces for A++ Performance

    In recent years, the educational world has gained greater appreciation for the ways a space’s aesthetics, just like its acoustics, can positively impact educational outcomes. Consequently, engineering, designing, and constructing a school environment demands acoustics to be equally an art and a science, requiring architects and designers to see with their ears, while acousticians must hear with their eyes.

  • California School District Starts Construction on Public Safety Center

    The San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) recently announced that construction has begun on a new public safety center that will house the district’s safety and security programs. According to a news release, the James Ramos Center for Public Safety will measure in at 17,140 square feet and contain the district’s Police Department, Office of Emergency Management, and cadet program.

  • Inglewood Unified School District Breaks Ground on New High School

    The Inglewood Unified School District in Inglewood, Calif., recently broke ground on a new campus for Inglewood High School, according to a news release. The project has a budget of about $240 million, funding coming through bond proceeds from Measure I.