Lifeguards and firefighters practice sand collapse drill in New Jersey

CAPE MAY, N.J. (NBC, KYMA) - First responders at the Jersey Shore held sand collapse rescue drills for the first time ever.

For the first time, cape may lifeguards and firefighters took part in a training scenario involving a mock victim who became trapped and completely covered by sand.

Hands, frisbees and backboards among the tools used in the rescue to locate the victim, then carefully dig them out.

Recent tragedies across the U.S. have sparked the lessons.

In January, two 14-year-old Florida boys died there after digging a deep hole in sand that collapsed.

Four years ago in Toms River, a hole that caved in on the beach took the life of an 18-year-old man.

If you or your kids dig a hole in the sand, first responders say, "It's important that you fill it back in before you leave the beach."