UMC El Paso advises locals to stay responsible using fireworks during the holiday weekend

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- As America's 250th birthday is just two days away, local firework vendors have been thriving. Even with fireworks banned in El Paso, local healthcare officials urge residents to stay safe during their weekend celebrations.

University Medical Center of El Paso Burn Center Director Dr. Philip Fidler has been vocal in advising the community in recent weeks, particularly those who plan on traveling out of the city to purchase or release fireworks or sparkles into the Borderland skies on Saturday.

"Fireworks themselves, generally smaller fireworks, are pretty safe from an explosive standpoint," Fidler told ABC 7. "But young kids, particularly boys, can be very creative and they can break the fireworks apart and pile them together to make a very substantial explosion."

He also said while sparklers may look harmless, they're hot enough to weld metal. Children shouldn't play with them without close supervision.

Doctors said people shouldn't take fireworks apart or combine them, since that could create a more powerful explosion.

"Any burn on the face or the hand or feet or private parts should be seen by a burn specialist. That could be more than meets the eye. Smaller burn injuries that are just the size of a pencil head occurring in the middle of the arm or the leg," Dr. Fiedler said.