An elderly woman and nine other bargain hunters were injured Friday (not even Black Friday) in a rush for gift certificates dropped from balloons on the ceiling of a local mall.

Some 2,000 shoppers rushed for 500 falling prize-filled balloons at the Del Amo Fashion Center, leaving nine with minor wounds and sending an elderly woman to the hospital.

Local firefighters had been investigating possible overcrowding when the balloons were dropped.

“We were given no forewarning,” Fire Capt. Steve Deuel said.

The mall’s marketing director, Sam Carpenter, said the mall management was “completely overwhelmed” by the turnout for the promotion.

The mob began pushing and shoving after the balloons were dropped. One teenage boy hopped two picket fences and kicked a package in the mall’s holiday display as he tried to escape the melee.

“With the chance of getting a nice prize, people start forgetting about safety, and that does concern us,” Police Officer Dave Crespin said.

Gina Silva, 15, managed to walk away safely with a balloon containing a $25 gift certificate for sushi.

“It was crazy,” she said. “Everyone was jumping and screaming, ‘Get the balloon! Get the balloon!’ I’m glad I got one, but I don’t know if I’d do it again.”

An example of the crazyiness of shoppers during the holiday season (video above).