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Rachel Engel

Rendering Aid

Rachel Engel is an award-winning journalist and the senior editor of FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. In addition to her regular editing duties, Engel seeks to tell the heroic, human stories of first responders and the importance of their work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, and began her career as a freelance writer, focusing on government and military issues. Engel joined Lexipol in 2015 and has since reported on issues related to public safety. Engel lives in Wichita, Kansas. She can be reached via email.

LATEST ARTICLES
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EMS Management
The EMS Pulse: Medics weigh in on the schedule that makes an EMS career sustainable
Medics split between 24-hour rotations with long breaks and shorter shifts, while many say pay, overtime and staffing matter more than any schedule
October 28, 2026 11:04 AM
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Rachel Engel
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What Paramedics Want
Burnout is an operational issue, not a personal wellness problem
For many EMS providers, burnout is not a wellness challenge to be solved with another resilience training; it’s a warning sign that the work environment itself needs repair
October 26, 2026 05:34 PM
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Rachel Engel
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The EMS Pulse
The EMS Pulse: Providers share tips for recovering after a tough call
From dark humor, to ice cream, to prayer, EMS professionals say there’s no single fix, and some warn there’s too little time to process
October 20, 2026 06:37 PM
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Rachel Engel
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National First Responders Day
Origin story: The history of National First Responders Day
A six-year push for the day of appreciation, inspired by heroism and tragedy, culminated in the designation of Oct. 28 to honor first responders
October 20, 2026 01:44 PM
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Rachel Engel
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Safety
‘Click it or ticket': Public safety slogans that made a difference
When it comes to educating the public, nothing beats a catchy slogan
October 07, 2026 11:42 AM
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Rachel Engel
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The EMS Pulse
The EMS Pulse: Medics cite staffing, leading from the front as signs of healthy leadership
Readers said staff retention and leaders who pitch in are the clearest indicators of agency health, while some said they’ve never experienced leadership support in their careers
October 07, 2026 11:29 AM
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Rachel Engel
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Substance Use Disorders
After Ole Miss deaths, a closer look at kratom and 7-OH
Potent synthetic kratom products are showing up in smoke shops and gas stations. Here’s what EMS and LEOs should know
October 05, 2026 11:57 AM
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Rachel Engel
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The EMS Pulse
The EMS Pulse: Medics split over 911’s high utilizer problem
A new study found 3% of patients account for 16% of all EMS calls; readers’ reactions were divided between exhaustion over repeat 911 callers and defense of the vulnerable people behind the numbers
September 22, 2026 12:18 PM
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Rachel Engel
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9/11
‘Nobody to triage’: FDNY commissioner recalls EMS’s sobering mission on 9/11
Lillian Bonsignore spent weeks working the pile; 25 years later, the area still triggers her brain to recall the smell “like it’s day one”
September 02, 2026 10:31 AM
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Rachel Engel
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Off Duty
The EMS Pulse: Medics weigh in on off-duty cannabis use
Hundreds of comments reveal broad support for off-duty cannabis use among EMS professionals, while questions about impairment testing, liability and federal rules remain sticking points
August 20, 2026 12:59 PM
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Rachel Engel