Career and technical education (CTE) students find themselves in school environments using equipment and tools that could cause injury if mishandled. It is imperative that these students be wide awake and alert when operating these tools. But many adolescents are not getting the sleep they need to be refreshed and alert. Sleep restores brain functions that affect metabolism, alertness, memory and regulates hormones. Not getting enough sleep can lead to impaired hand-eye coordination, reaction time, vision, awareness of surroundings, judgment, impulse control, and can cause brief mental lapses called micro-sleeps, which impede concentration and retention. This condition is particularly dangerous for CTE students who use tools and equipment. This article discusses the causes and effects of sleep deprivation and offers action plans for students and parents. It also shares what some schools are doing to allow teens to get more sleep. (Contains 1 endnote.)