< Overview
Resources
for Families
Questions & Answers for
Children
Here are some of the questions you might anticipate:
What is bioterrorism?
A simple answer is that bioterrorism is an act by mean people, called terrorists, that want to hurt or scare people. They do this by using guns or spreading germs that make people sick. If the child is old enough to understand infections, you might want to explain how they spread disease through viruses and bacteria.
Why do terrorists want to hurt people and make them sick?
There is no good reason why terrorists attack. Sometimes terrorists have different feelings and beliefs than we do and show their unhappiness by hurting people. Make sure to emphasize that this in no way to show unhappiness and there are better ways of expressing feelings.
Are these infections like the ones I get? Make sure to assure your child that these sicknesses are very different than the kinds he
gets (colds, stomach aches, ear infections). Also explain that these illnesses occur in limited areas. If your child does get sick with a cold or stomach ache and is concerned about the possibility that it was caused by a terrorist act, make sure to reassure him
that everyone experiences illnesses from time to time and that they are safe. Terrorists spread infections that are not the same as the ones he
gets. They are caused by very different bacteria or viruses.
What are we doing to make them stop?
Before anything else, always reassure your child that you are doing everything you can do keep him safe. His school, teachers, doctors, scientists, soldiers and community are all working to protect him and the rest of the people in the country. We also have medicines to help treat the illnesses terrorists could spread.
What not to do:
If you don’t know the answers to all of his questions, don’t suggest he look them up on the Internet himself. Information about bioterrorism can be frightening and overwhelming. It’s your job to help sort through the information to find the appropriate information needed to answer his questions. Also, because bioterrorism is such a frightening and serious subject, do not use the terms in a threatening manor.
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