The sparks across Chattanooga's sky on Saturday night sent numerous people to local hospitals for treatment.
Eight local residents were treated for fireworks-related injuries at Erlanger Medical Center's emergency rooms over the July Fourth weekend.
"This is the highest number of firework-related injuries treated at Erlanger's ERs in the past five years," said Erlanger spokeswoman Pat Charles in a written statement.
Staff photo by John Rawlston/Chattanooga Times Free Press
David Aguilar rolls up the sides of a TNT Fireworks tent in the parking lot of a shopping center on North Glenwood in Dalton, Ga., on Tuesday, June 30, 2015. New state laws regulating fireworks take effect July 1, 2015, increasing the taxes of firework sales and allowing for the sale of larger fireworks. Larger fireworks must be sold in a permanent building and not in tents, and TNT is opening a store for that purpose in the shopping center. Two of those needing treatment were children, both suffering from burns to their cheeks. One adult suffered a partial hand amputation, and two adults were treated for eye injuries, which included a corneal abrasion and corneal burn, caused by explosives. The other three adults were treated for facials burns, lacerations and fractures, the release stated.
Coy Ellis, coordinator of the Safe and Sound injury prevention program at Children's Hospital at Erlanger, said in the statement that 70 percent of fireworks-related injuries occur between June 20 and July 20.
Memorial Hospital said they did not treat any fireworks-related injuries over the weekend. Parkridge confirmed no one was treated at its West Campus, but was not able to confirm whether the other campuses treated anyone.