What is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)?

A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is primarily a facility dedicated to answering emergency calls for services such as police, fire, and medical assistance. When someone dials an emergency number, such as 911 in the United States, the call is routed to a PSAP, where trained personnel dispatch the appropriate emergency responders.

This function is critical in ensuring that urgent situations are handled promptly and efficiently, allowing for the quickest possible response to emergencies. The focus of a PSAP is on call handling and immediate response coordination rather than on training, planning, or data tracking, which are the primary functions associated with the other choices.

In summary, the extensive role of a PSAP is integral to public safety, emphasizing its importance in emergency response systems.