FRAMINGHAM, MA - Learn the “basics” about living with food allergies in your family, including how to prevent and handle severe allergy emergencies, on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the Metro-West Allergy and Asthma Educational Support Group meeting, which is held at Allergy & Asthma Treatment Specialists, 475 Franklin St., Framingham. The program is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required. There will be time for questions and discussion.

“There are a growing number of people with allergies to peanuts and many other foods”, says Sharon Schumack, Director of Education for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, New England Chapter, which is sponsoring this meeting. It will feature a presentation by Framingham allergist Stuart Rhein, M.D., and practical tips from support group leaders Linda Drews and Lori Brockway, “veterans” of managing food allergies at school, child care, and in their homes.

AAFA New England organizes educational support group programs throughout the region, publishes a newsletter, and runs a telephone resource and referral line for people coping with allergies and asthma. For more information, or free a free copy of “Eating Out with Food Allergies,” call (781)444-7778 or see www.asthmaandallergies.org.