By Don Ketchum

A concussion is not something to play around with.

If an athlete has one, or suspects they have one, they should treat the situation with the utmost caution and not return to play their sport until they have received medical clearance.

Education is a big part of the equation.

That is why the Arizona Interscholastic Association has partnered with Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix and the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals in the implementation of Brainbook, an interactive concussion module that student-athletes across Arizona are required to take.

On Tuesday (Aug. 16), Arizona became the first state in the country to mandate all athletes in all sports to undergo concussion education and pass a formal test before playing. Arizona ranks second in the nation in traumatic brain injuries.

The new Brainbook program is an interactive computer program that provides student-athletes with information on what concussions are, the warning signs, the treatment and finally the return to action. A student must take a test on what he or she has just read, signifying their awareness and verifying that they didn’t just skip over the material.

The AIA, Barrow and the Cardinals got together to develop the program in 2010, and the priority of it increased with the signing of a youth sports concussion bill by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer earlier this year.

Gov. Brewer again will “sign’’ the bill on Saturday (Aug. 20) during a ceremony at the Sollenberger Classic that features two pre-season games between Arizona and Nevada teams at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

Show Low plays Moapa Valley, Nev., at 3 p.m., and Scottsdale Chaparral will face Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas at 7:30 p.m.

“The program would be impractical to go from school to school, particularly with some remote areas,’’ said Dr. Javier Cardenas, MD and neurologist at Barrow, who has been heavily involved with concussion prevention and was one of the primary architects of the program.

“So we have the computers . . . we have a social networking interface (format) that the students understand, but there is no social networking involved.’’

Most of the testing will be done at the schools, although it does have the capability to be taken at home. Athletes are given a special code that will apply only to them. The entire process should take no more than 30 minutes.

The presentation includes video clips of “role model’’ coaches and athletes in Arizona’s athletic community, touting the importance of the concussion issue. Among those are Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt and Diana Taurasi, star of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.

The program also relies on the importance of peer experience and advice, and there are video clips of athletes who have sustained concussions and how they dealt with them.

“This has been a great team effort and we are proud to be a part of this educational program,’’ said Dr. Harold Slemmer, Executive Director of the AIA. “We have more than 100,000 student-athletes in Arizona, and we want all of them to take this as soon as possible. It is the first of its kind in the U.S.’’

Slemmer said coaches, administrators and game officials began taking concussion safety courses through the National Federation of State High School Associations last year and will be counted on to monitor their athletes. Parents are urged to be a part of the educational process.

Slemmer emphasized that while the program will be offered each year, the athletes do not have to take it every year – just once, whether it be as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, or those who move here from other states.

The Cardinals and the NFL also have played a significant role.

Appearing at a press conference on Tuesday via teleconference from the NFL offices in New York, Cardinals President Michael Bidwill said his team is proud to be a part of the program.

“Our commissioner (Roger Goodell) has led the charge in this . . . there are too many of these injuries and we need to protect the kids,’’ Bidwill said.

Bidwill added that Cardinals place-kicker Jay Feely lobbied for the bill that was signed by Gov. Brewer.

Cardenas talked about concussion awareness becoming an attitude, something ingrained in the athletes over time, much the same as knowing about how to keep properly hydrated.

Football is the focal point, but other sports in all seasons, including cheerleading, are included.

“Concussions don’t just happen in football. Girls soccer and girls basketball also have a high instance of concussions,’’ Cardenas said.

“We know we cannot eliminate them all. We know that the important thing is to recover, and this will help them do that.’’

CONCUSSION FACT SHEET

From Barrow Neurological Institute

*A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is caused by a bump or blow to the head or body.

*All concussions are serious.

*90 percent of concussions occur without a loss of consciousness.

*Recognition and proper response to concussions when they first occur can help prevent further injury.

*Athletes who sustain one concussion are at increased risk for further injury.

*Arizona ranks second in the nation for traumatic brain injury.

*Approximately 3 million sports-related concussions occur nationally each year.

*Approximately 7,000 Arizona high school students suffer a concussion each year.

*Children and teens are more likely to sustain a concussion and tend to have a longer recovery period than adults.