A low-profile universal passive protector is provided for an IV catheter comprising a hypodermic needle and a catheter. An elongate sheath defines a sheath cavity and a longitudinal axis. A slider is connected to the hypodermic needle and is movable along the sheath between first and second positions for withdrawing the needle into the sheath. A finger-press plate is coupled to the sheath and extends beyond the slider in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to define a plate height. A flashback body is coupled to the slider in a manner such that the flashback body and slider collectively define a cavity in fluid communication with the hypodermic needle. The flashback body is sized and configured to extend from the slider in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to define a flashback body height that is less than the plate height.