VIDEO: As the excitement builds for the Formula 1 race hitting the valley this weekend, local hospitals and first responders are taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of the drivers and hundreds of thousands of fans.
Alison McKnickle, vice chief of trauma at UMC, shares insights into her team's extensive preparations over the last several months.
Their motto: "Hope for the best, plan for the worst."
“The trauma unit and the entire University Medical Center have worked on preparing for a potential incident involving formula participants or the community," she said.
Regarding the safety of Formula 1 fans, Pamela O'Brien, who traveled from Vancouver, felt very comfortable at Thursday's grand opening.
"There's a lot of security," O'Brien said. "Going into it, you feel safe. The checkpoints and all of the stuff like that. You feel secure."