The invention relates to a safety device for a syringe for avoiding stab wounds said syringe having a syringe body and a piercing means arranged on the distal end of the syringe body. The safety device comprises a sleeve element (6) that extends along an axial direction (X) and encloses at least partly the piercing means and the syringe body said sleeve element being rotatably mounted on a distal end region of the syringe body. The safety device is characterized by comprising a contact element (7) which contacts the skin of a patient when the syringe is used said contact element being arranged on the distal end of the sleeve element and being rotatable independent of the sleeve element.