Local foundations have teamed up to offer portable heart defibrillators to building owners, corporations, nonprofit organizations and emergency responders.

During the next three years, the PULSE program wants to have 1,000 more Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, devices installed and train 9,000 additional people on their use.

The estimated cost of the program is $1.5 million but those receiving an AED will pay only a one-time $250 fee.

PULSE, an acronym for Pittsburgh United for Life-Saving Emergencies, is a joint effort of the St. Margaret Foundation and the Colcom and Laurel foundations, with support from the Heinz Endowments and its president, Maxwell King.

In November, Mr. King collapsed after his heart stopped while he was at a meeting at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Staff members revived him using an AED as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

According to PULSE, about 400 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest yearly in Pittsburgh, and only 5 to 7 percent survive if they don't receive immediate treatment.

The foundations have already placed more than 600 AEDs with emergency services personnel and civic organizations.