4th of July fireworks: How you and your family can stay safe this Independence Day

EL PASO, Texas - Independence Day is Monday, and plenty of people are going to go light fireworks to celebrate.

While this is a traditional way to celebrate the 4th, fireworks are still dangerous, and people can risk severe injury from using them. The dry conditions also mean that fireworks can be the perfect fuel for a fire.

Dr. Stephen Flaherty of the Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso spoke with ABC-7 about the risks that can come with the use of fireworks, especially handheld ones such as firecrackers.

Fernando Viramontes, owner of TNT fireworks, also spoke with ABC-7 and stressed the importance of picking up after yourself, and to properly dispose of fireworks debris.

He stated that his team usually collects up to "one commercial dumpster['s]" worth of fireworks each Independence Day from the Red Sands area, where people traditionally go to set off fireworks in El Paso County.

Stay tuned to ABC-7 Weekends at 10 for more on fireworks safety.