A needle shielding device attachable to a hypodermic syringe for protecting a user from contacting the tip of a needle. The device comprises a generally cylindrical needle shield slidably engaging a syringe body for protecting a user from being stuck by the needle tip of the syringe. The needle shield continuously frictionally engages and grips the syringe body as the shield is moved between a retracted position wherein the needle extends forwardly of the needle shield and a extended position wherein the needle tip is protectively enclosed by the needle shield.