GROVE CITY — About 3.5 million athletes ages 14 and younger get injured every year playing sports, and concussions are a big part of that.

To help deal with concussions, the Heads UP Pittsburgh program had baseline testing for children on Wednesday at the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV. The program is sponsored by UPMC Sports Medicine and the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.

Patrick Huber, concussion outreach coordinator for UPMC, said the test is designed to get a baseline reading of the child’s normal brain functioning. If a concussion is suspected, the child’s functioning then can be compared to the baseline test.

Concussions are caused by blows to the head or whiplash injuries to the upper body or head. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, sleep disturbance, emotional issues and problems with concentration, memory, judgment, balance and coordination.

The testing is done on a computer.

“Kind of like playing different video games,” Huber told the youths.

The testing included memory tests involving words, designs, shapes, numbers and color matching. Later in the day, parents received the test via e-mail.

If their child gets a concussion, the parent can take the memory test the child took to a doctor to compare results,

“They’ll actually have it,” Huber said of the results.

This is the fifth year for the program, but it was the first time the screenings were at the unit. In years past, all the screenings were in Allegheny County, but program officials wanted to expand to allow children in the northwestern part of the state to have easier access.

“They really stepped up this year,” Huber said.

Since the program started, about 14,000 to 15,000 people have taken the test Huber said.

The free testing is designed for athletes ages 10 to 14. Anyone suffering from a recent concussion or having concussion-like symptoms could not take the test.

Elizabeth Knight of Center Township brought her 11-year-old son, Carson, for testing.

“He plays a lot of sports,” Knight said.

One of those is soccer, where he is the goalie — which is a position that can include being knocked around.

Sue Errera of Prospect brought her 14-year-old son, Kyle, who plays hockey. He has never had a concussion, but he has received this kind of testing several times in the past.

“It’s always been UPMC,” Errera said.

Julie Hudak of New Castle brought her 11-year-old son, Joey. She said the possibility of having a concussion is a concern to her.

“Oh my gosh, yes,” Hudak said.

A football player, Joey has had a concussion before.

“He did last fall,” Hudak said.

His recovery from that took about a week and a half.

“He was all good to go after that,” Hudak said.

However, she did say another concussion is a concern which was part of the reason she had him get tested. He, too, has received baseline testing in the past.

Another screening will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. July 29 at the unit. To register for that session, visit www.upmc.com/BaselineTesting.