Rotary gift helps war on P

A Rotary club has donated funds to buy six protective suits for St John Ambulance officers to use during drug operations.

Auckland East Rotary Club last night gave $4000 to the St John Special Emergency Response Team to enable them to buy six Thermopro suits.

St John response team leader Paul Dillon said his team was often called out to help the police during drug operations.

P labs, where methamphetamine is cooked, contain toxic chemicals which can be potentially poisonous or explosive.

Last year, police raided 115 P labs, and 190 in 2007. About 1300 have been found in the past 10 years.

Mr Dillon said the new suits were of a better quality then existing ones.

The coveralls protect against toxic chemicals for up to an hour and are fire resistant.

The suits will protect the team from gas and chemicals which can cause respiratory problems, nerve damage and burns, he said.

"They're a lot more reusable and protect against more chemicals.

"Previous suits could melt a lot quicker."

The donation coincides with St John's Flash a Light appeal to the public, which was launched to close its funding shortfall, expected to be $12 million.