WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County saw a spike in fireworks-related injuries this Fourth of July.

PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center reports that it treated 14 patients for those types of injuries over the weekend.

That was up from five over Independence Day weekend last year.

The wounds included serious injuries to people’s hand, face and eyes, along with burns and eardrum damage.

The local increase coincided with a similar trend seen at Harborview Medical Center, which reported a 65% rise in fireworks-related injuries from last year.

“This is a troubling increase,” said Tim Fredrickson, Harborview’s associate chief nursing officer, in a news release. “More importantly, these are all individuals whose holiday ended in the emergency department instead of with family and friends. Many of the injuries are severe, including burns, hand and eye trauma that may carry lifelong consequences.  Most were preventable.”