Do people not realize that blanks contain a casing and gunpowder and can injure if used improperly? They are not completely safe and people have died from being shot by them at close range. Here is an article that explains it:
Blanks are intended to mimic actual gunfire, but they're not as different from real bullets as you might think.
www.mentalfloss.com
So they would have helped in this situation since the person Baldwin shot was far enough away. But not if he had shot the gun at close range.
Btw, I felt for Baldwin having to live with the knowledge that his actions had caused another person to die. But that sympathy has faded away knowing he is now trying to pretend he didn't pull the trigger.