A safety catheter for use with a patient which comprises: an elongated handle defining an axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle is formed with an internal chamber and has a plurality of resilient fingers extending parallel to the axis in a distal direction from the handle; said handle defining a pair of gaps proximate to the fingers; a luer assembly for establishing a site for fluid access into the vasculature of the patient; a shuttle assembly, wherein the shuttle assembly is mounted for axial movement on the handle from a first location to a second location, with the luer assembly fitted onto the handle to urge the fingers thereof against the shuttle assembly to hold the shuttle assembly at the first location; and an actuator mounted on the handle for movement between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein the actuator is formed with a base member having a plurality of rails extending distally therefrom and having a pair of opposed living hinges positioned outwardly therefrom, each hinge extending in part through a corresponding gap, wherein during a forced movement of the actuator from its proximal position to its distal position, the base member holds the fingers of the handle against the shuttle assembly and the living hinges are compressed to bias the actuator for a return back toward its proximal position, and the rails push on the luer assembly to separate the luer assembly from the shuttle assembly, and wherein upon removal of the force from the actuator, the living hinges bias the actuator back to its proximal position to remove the base member from the fingers and to release the fingers of the handle from the shuttle assembly to separate the handle and the shuttle assembly from the luer assembly for retracting the shuttle assembly to its second location inside the chamber. an elongated handle defining an axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle is formed with an internal chamber and has a plurality of resilient fingers extending parallel to the axis in a distal direction from the handle; said handle defining a pair of gaps proximate to the fingers; a luer assembly for establishing a site for fluid access into the vasculature of the patient; a shuttle assembly, wherein the shuttle assembly is mounted for axial movement on the handle from a first location to a second location, with the luer assembly fitted onto the handle to urge the fingers thereof against the shuttle assembly to hold the shuttle assembly at the first location; and an actuator mounted on the handle for movement between a proximal position and a distal position, wherein the actuator is formed with a base member having a plurality of rails extending distally therefrom and having a pair of opposed living hinges positioned outwardly therefrom, each hinge extending in part through a corresponding gap, wherein during a forced movement of the actuator from its proximal position to its distal position, the base member holds the fingers of the handle against the shuttle assembly and the living hinges are compressed to bias the actuator for a return back toward its proximal position, and the rails push on the luer assembly to separate the luer assembly from the shuttle assembly, and wherein upon removal of the force from the actuator, the living hinges bias the actuator back to its proximal position to remove the base member from the fingers and to release the fingers of the handle from the shuttle assembly to separate the handle and the shuttle assembly from the luer assembly for retracting the shuttle assembly to its second location inside the chamber.