Robert B. Kauffman, Ph.D.
Over the past twenty plus years, Dr. Kauffman has had roughly one to two active expert witness cases per year. Most of these cases have involved whitewater rafting and canoeing cases. The canoeing cases involved canoe liveries, camps, and youth groups. Dr. Kauffman has worked for both the plaintiff and defense. The following is a summary and sampling of Dr. Kauffman’s boating safety involvement. It shows the diversity of involvement and the depth of involvement at both the skills and policy areas.
- Boating Safety Highlights
- Books, Manuals, and Chapters
- Non-boating Safety Involvement
- Contact Information
BOATING SAFETY HIGHLIGHTS
Movies and Videos: Between 1988 to 2011, Dr. Kauffman was the project director for a series of boating safety videos funded by Coast Guard grants to the National Safe Boating Council and the American Canoe Association. Responsibilities included writing the grant proposals, co-writing scripts, and working with Russ Nichols who directed, edited, and produced the videos. Titles include Almost a Perfect Day, Life Jackets Float, Do You?, Its Your Turn, Decide to Return, Heads Up – River Rescue for River Runners, and Cold, Wet, and Alive. Almost a Perfect Day, Heads Up, and Cold, Wet, and Alive all earned a CINE (Council on International Non-theatric Events) Golden Eagle award. [Note: If you go to my YouTube site, Scholedale Productions, I provide an insiders background to some of these videos.]
- Wallcharts: Dr. Kauffman developed a series of 24″ x 36″ wallcharts under Coast Guard grants to the American Canoe Association between 1987 to 2009. Titles include River Kayaking, Coastal Kayaking, Defensive Boating, Canoe Camping, and River Canoeing.
BOD – American Canoe Association. From 1998 to 2006, Dr. Kauffman served on the Board of Directors of the American Canoe Association. He served as Secretary of the Board for four of those years.
Potomac River Study. Dr. Kauffman conducted a study of the fatalities on the mainstem of the Potomac River and found that most fatalities occurred at moderate (the river is well within its banks) and not at flood or near flood levels. Most people perceive flood conditions as being dangerous, but not high normal flows. In addition, the study recommend a gauging system to warn river users. A product of this study was the development of the Drowning Trap. It found that most people drowned at water levels that they didn’t perceive as dangerous.
River Safety Symposium. Conceptualized and organized the first River Safety Symposium that examined the large number of river fatalities that occurred during the 1970. The symposium was sponsored by the American Canoe Association, The American Red Cross and the Pennsylvania Fish Commission.
BOOKS, MANUALS, AND CHAPTERS
The following publications are boating safety related. General recreation and park and facility design publications are not included here.
Swiftwater Rescue Course Manual. Open Educational Resource (OER). Self-published, 2017, 102 pages and over 94 original diagrams. (primary author) Click here to go to the Swiftwater Rescue Manual and Graphics page which includes the manual.
Rafting Course and Instructor’s Manual. Open Educational Resource (OER). Self-published, January 2018, 123 pages and over 100 original diagrams. (primary author). Click here to go to the Rafting Manual and Graphics page which includes the chapters.
Integrate Risk Management in Leisure Services. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, March 2013, 303 pp. (first author; second author: Merry Moiseichik)
Outdoor Adventures: Kayaking. American Canoe Association (eds), Human Kinetics, May, 2008. (Contributor of chapters on strokes and river dynamics)
Outdoor Adventures: Canoeing. American Canoe Association (eds), Human Kinetics, March , 2008. (Contributed Chapter 6, Building Your Canoe Basics, and Chapter 8, Overnight Camping Skills)
Boating Fundamentals: A Manual of Boating Safety. National Recreation and Park Association, Arlington, Virginia, 1995. (ISBN:0-929581-93-8), 126 pp.
Publications and Presentations: Dr. Kauffman has published numerous articles and has presented at professional conferences not included here. Among these publications are articles on the accident process.
NON-BOATING SAFETY INVOLVEMENT
After 28 years of service at Frostburg State University, Dr. Kauffman retired in 2020. During that period, he was a professor of Recreation and Parks Management, Chair of the Department, Chair of the Faculty and Chair of the University System Faculty (CUSF). Some major awards received are listed below.
- Higgins & Langley Memorial Award in Swiftwater Rescue. Special Commendation Category. National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). 2022.
- Regent’s Award for Public Service. Earned the Regent’s Award in Public Service for entire University System of Maryland (USM). 2014.
- Outstanding Faculty Award. Professional achievement category, Frostburg State University, 2010.
- Citation Award. Maryland Recreation and Parks Association. MRPA’s highest award, it is presented to either a member or non-member, once in their life for having made a significant contribution to recreation and parks movement in Maryland. April 2005.
- President’s Award for Outstanding Service on the National Level. American Canoe Association, November 2004.
- Outstanding Faculty Award. Service category, Frostburg State University, 1999.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The best way to contact Dr. Kauffman is through email. Please note that I have retired from Frostburg State University and the email and phone number listed on my FSU website are no longer active.
e: kauffman.rbk@gmail.com
c: 240.727.8985
