Please scroll down for full details on how the Drinkup System works.
The Issue
Dehydration is potentially harmful to basic health and may cause discomfort, distress, anxiety and frustration. The ability for a less able person to drink when he or she wishes, would be beneficial for all those involved.
Our Solution and Aims
- To provide a simple, versatile, affordable, quality product with broad appeal to people with disabilities of widely differing origin.
- To enable the user to maintain their own hydration, so improving independence and assisting to sustain general health and well-being.
- To free up carer time for other activities.
- Financial savings may result incidentally from improved health of the person and/or reallocation of staff time, but the issue of independence remains paramount.
User Benefits
- Enables the elderly, less able and injured to drink unassisted, without using their hands or arms.
- Reduces dependence on carers and nursing staff.
- Free standing and self-supporting on and flat surface.
- The bite valve allows the user to control fluid intake.
- Can be used whilst lying or seated, from a bed or chair due to easy adjustment in reach, elevation and direction.
- Does not drip or spill due to the CamelBak® anti-siphon/non return bite valve, which also reduces the suction effort required.
- Affords easier hydration, so improves or sustains general health and well-being.
- A wheelchair/bed frame version is also available (see the Drinkup Travel Lite).
Carer Benefits
- Completely washable, with removable parts and mouthpieces. For economy, routine hygiene and use by others.
- Accepts almost any drinks vessel, including the NHS type jug, allowing easier fluid intake monitoring.
- Easy and quick to set up.
- In all situations Drinkup reduces the time given to the basic task of keeping the dependent person or Service User well hydrated.
- In a professional care situation financial savings may result from the dependent person or Service User being well hydrated and/or reallocation of staff time, thus Drinkup pays for itself within a short period of time.
- No electricity or batteries required.
- For use in hospitals, care/nursing homes and by individuals in their own homes.
How Drinkup Works
Very simply, once set-up and a drink is in place, the user bites gently onto the CamelBak® bite valve, makes a seal with their lips and sucks, as if using a straw. The drink will then rise and flow along the fluid tube. If the user needs to rest, they can relax without the drink returning to the vessel.
The 'Safe-Siphon' Mode
If the user has difficulty coordinating biting and sucking actions, has a weak 'suck ability' or is completely unable to suck, the Drinkup System may be used in the 'Safe-Siphon' mode, taking advantage of gravity. We can supply a special syringe and a bite valve adaptor for this purpose. Please contact us for further information on priming and using the Drinkup in the 'Safe-Siphon' mode.
Technical Specification
Assembled dimensions
Unit height: 253mm (10”)
Unit width: 157mm (6¼”)
Unit depth: 177mm (7”)
Horizontal reach
Short setup: 250mm (10¼”)
Medium setup: 400mm (15¾”)
Long setup: 550mm (21½”)
Extra long setup: 700mm (27½”)
Maximum vertical reach : 900mm (35½”)
Fluid capacity: Using the jug supplied, 1.1litre (1¾ pints, 1qt)
Alternative vessels
Max height: 175mm (6¾”)
Max base diameter: 100mm (4”)
Max rim diameter at 175mm:125mm (5”)
Materials
Main parts: Polypropylene + Glass Fibre
Metal fittings: Stainless Steel
Jug: Polycarbonate
Fluid tube & Straw: Food grade PVC
Bite valve: Silicone rubber - Genuine CamelBak®
Non-slip feet: Dycem® discs
Adaptions & Variations
Threaded base inserts allow fitting to Mobilia Mounting System, Vertical Mount, Adjustable Floor stand and various other Mobilia clamps.
Box Contents
Drinkup is supplied partly assembled. The individual parts and box contents are as follows:
Drinkup Base Arm extension
Arm pivot Knob Arm pivot
Flexible arm Crank arm
Straw holder Tube clip (x2)
Valve holder Can/Cup holder
Jug & lid Consumables Parts Pack (x1)
User Manual Product Registration Reply
VAT Note: We can supply certain Drinkup products at Zero-rate VAT to eligible UK based disabled or charity customers. If this applies to you, please contact us before ordering.
