An intravascular safety guidewire including an elongated main shaft, a distal terminus extending from the elongated main shaft, and an anchor rotatably connected to the distal terminus. In use, a needle is inserted into a patient's vein, then the intravascular safety guidewire is placed through the needle and into the vein, the needle is then removed over the intravascular safety guidewire, then a venous catheter is exchanged over the intravascular safety guidewire following serial dilatation using the Seldinger technique. Tubes such as dilators and catheters can then be placed over the intravascular safety guidewire and the intravascular safety guidewire ultimately removed. Currently complications can arise if a guidewire becomes retained inside a patient during an endovascular procedure, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The instant intravascular safety guidewire with its rotatable anchor reduces the likelihood of this complication.