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Handling firearms, especially those that we carry every day, can become "comfortable" over time. That comfortable feeling can get one in trouble. We all know or should know the four rules of gun safety but all the threads about AD/ND/UD's lately have inspired me to share some safety practices that I employ.

The main, and most obvious cure for the UD is not to put a finger on the trigger unless you plan to fire the gun. As human beings, mistakes are going to be made. As responsible human beings with firearms, we cannot allow mistakes to happen.

When cleaning a firearm, remove all ammunition from the area. Say out loud, "I am cleaning this gun now and there is no ammunition in the area."

If you are going to dry fire the gun, whether it's practice or for a functional test, remove all ammunition from the area and say out loud, "I am going to do some dry fire practice now and there is no ammunition in the area."
Secondly, if you're going to dry fire the gun, it's also a good idea to remove any magazines or other feeding device from your body (mag holders, pockets, etc). They have the uncanny ability to find there way into the gun.

When the cleaning is done, dry fire is done, functional testing is done, say out loud, "I am finished cleaning, practicing, testing now."

When you load the gun, say out loud "I am loading the gun now" or "this weapon is hot now". LOOK at the gun when you say it.
Say out loud "I will not pull the trigger on this weapon because it is loaded". LOOK at the gun when you say it.

I got the above tips from a friend a long time ago and while it may sound extreme to some of you, distractions happen. Don't let them interfere with YOUR safe practices.