I second the notion the kid was probably just motion sick. Besides, you weren't nearly close enough or around the area for long enough to be exposed to any particles of stuff.
I think we always look because we need confirmation of whether or not we should freak out.
Or perhaps it's a phobia coping complex. If we see it and don't freak out too much, we'll be less afraid of it. Then again if we see it and have a panic attack, that'll probably just reinforce the fear.
Lately I've had this theory that what we're really afraid of is the panic attack, or in other words, fear itself. The fear is what makes us miserable, what makes us behave illogically. The phobia is just a stimuli for the fear.
If we can be exposed to the phobia without having a panic attack, or better yet not being afraid, then we're beating the phobia.
So long as you don\'t give in to the fear, it doesn\'t matter what else happens.