Air Liquide China employees volunteered as first responders for 2016 Shanghai International Marathon

SHANGHAI, Oct. 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — At 5 a.m. of October 30, 16 employees from Air Liquide China joined over 200 other volunteers to gather near Shanghai Stadium and start their day as "first responders" for 2016 Shanghai International Marathon. Outfitted with first-aid equipment and supply, the volunteers were sent to different designated locations along the course to provide an eight-hour-long emergency support for the event. Another employee ran the full marathon – 42.195 kilometers – alongside the runners to provide more timely emergency support.

Launched in 1996, the Shanghai International Marathon takes place annually in Shanghai, China during late Fall. This year, about 38,000 runners participated in the popular event. Given the long race and large field of runners, the risk of serious medical incidents such as sudden cardiac arrests is high. In such cases, immediate first aid delivered by a certified "first responder" before the ambulance arrives can be vital and may save a runner's life.

Yan Jinping, Chief Operating Officer for Air Liquide China, said: "Air Liquide China is proud of its employees who volunteered as first responders for this international event. As a responsible corporate citizen, Air Liquide China has always encouraged our employees to actively participate in corporate social responsibility projects and to contribute to the well-being of the local communities."

This September, Air Liquide China organized an external training for 20 volunteers to help them qualify as first responders. The trained Air Liquide employees then volunteered as first responders for seven different sports events including the marathon, together providing more than 211 hours of volunteer service.

Responsibility is at the core of Air Liquide culture. The company is devoted to developing local economies, protecting life and the environment, and contributing to communities. Under its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) umbrella program called "Air Liquide Care", in addition to "Marathon First Responder Program", Air Liquide China promotes other initiatives including annual tree-planting event "Green Action" and the recycled computer donation program "Air Liquide Computer Classroom".

Air Liquide in China
operates nearly 90 plants and employs about 4,500 employees today. With a strong presence in the key coastal industrial areas, Air Liquide China is now expanding into the center, south and west. Its main business activities include industrial and medical gas operations, Engineering & Construction (designing, manufacturing and installing air separation units/hydrogen facilities), as well as innovation activities.

Air Liquide

The world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with approximately 68,000 employees and serves more than 3 million customers and patients*. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide's scientific territory and have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902.

Air Liquide's ambition is to lead its industry, deliver long-term performance and contribute to sustainability. The company's customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.

Air Liquide's revenues amounted to EUR16.4 billion in 2015, and its solutions that protect life and the environment represented more than 40% of sales. On 23 May 2016, Air Liquide completed its acquisition of Airgas, which had revenues amounting to $5.3 billion (around EUR4.8 billion) for the fiscal year ending 31 March 2016.

Air Liquide is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40 and Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 indexes.

* Following the acquisition of Airgas on 23 May 2016

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