Final answer:
911 calls are routed to the correct PSAP based on the location of the incident, using technology like Enhanced 911 to determine the call's origin and ensure an efficient emergency response.
Step-by-step explanation:
911 calls are 'selectively' routed to the correct PSAP based on the location of the incident. The acronym PSAP stands for Public Safety Answering Point, which is the call center responsible for answering calls to an emergency telephone number for police, firefighting, and ambulance services. Effective 911 services are a critical component of public safety and emergency response systems.
When a person dials 911, the call is routed based on the physical location of the caller. This location is identified using various technologies, such as Enhanced 911 (E911) which utilizes the caller's phone number and other data to determine the most appropriate PSAP geographically. In the case of mobile phones, the technology employed can include GPS data, cell tower triangulation, or other methods to accurately pinpoint where the call is coming from. The purpose of this selective routing is to ensure that emergency services are dispatched from the nearest and most appropriate location, for a prompt response.
Options such as the caller's age, the time of day, and the language spoken are not used for routing 911 calls to PSAPs. While these factors might be relevant during the call to provide tailored assistance, they do not determine the routing of the call itself. The correct answer to the student's question is that the routing is based on B) the location of the incident.