Which of the following options is a deadly force option for life-threatening situations?

Impacting vital areas is recognized as a deadly force option because it involves targeting critical parts of the body that can result in severe or fatal injury. This tactical choice is reserved for situations where an officer faces a life-threatening scenario and needs to neutralize a threat effectively. The principle behind this method is that by targeting vulnerable areas such as the head, neck, or spine, the potential to incapacitate an assailant quickly increases, which is crucial when an officer's life or the lives of others are at imminent risk.

In contrast, handcuffs serve primarily as a means of restraint rather than a method of force that could lead to serious bodily harm or death; they are designed to control and contain a suspect, not to incapacitate through violence. Pressure points, while they can cause pain or discomfort, do not typically result in the severe outcomes necessary to classify them as deadly force tactics. Verbal commands are essential for communication and de-escalation in law enforcement but lack the physical impact needed in life-threatening situations, thus not fitting the criteria for deadly force.